Text messaging has become very popular among cell phone users, and in many situations it is a great way to communicate. If you plan to send or receive a large number of texts, also known as SMS messages, a package deal may be the best option. But you don't need a texting plan, or even a cell phone, to send a text message. You can send texts directly from your computer via your email account, through an instant messaging service, or from a web site dedicated to that purpose.

Web Sites

Numerous web sites allow you to send a text message to a cell phone from your computer. Examples include txt2day.com, textem.net, text4free.net or onlinetextmessage.com. These and many other services allow you to enter a brief text message no longer than 160 characters. You must type in the recipient's cell phone number including area code, and you must know their cell phone service carrier. Often you can choose the carrier from a drop-down list. Some of these web sites offer additional features as well, for example the opportunity to enter an email address where you can receive a reply, or a list of common texting abbreviations and their meanings.

Instant Messenger Accounts

Instant messenger services such as AIM or Yahoo! Messenger allow you to send texts from your computer to a cell phone. In AIM, add your friends' phone numbers to your buddy list. Begin each entry with +1, then add the 10-digit number and send an instant message as usual. From Yahoo! Messenger, simply type the 10-digit cell number, compose the message and send. In each case, replies come back to your instant messaging account.

Email Accounts

You can use your email account to send and receive text messages. You'll need to know the recipient's cell phone number and carrier. The recipient's cell phone "address" is the 10-digit number@ the cell carrier's email domain. To send a text to a Verizon customer, enter their number @vtext.com, for example 5551235678@vtext.com. For T-Mobile, enter the 10-digit number followed by @tmomail.net. You can determine a carrier's domain by visiting their web site.

Cell Phone Carriers' Websites

Many cell phone carriers allow you to send a free text message to their customers directly from their web site. For example, Sprint provides a text messaging interface at http://messaging.sprintpcs.com/textmessaging/compose and Verizon's service can be found at https://www.vtext.com/customer_site/jsp/messaging_lo.jsp. To find the text messaging pages of other carriers, visit their web site and type "send text" or "send text message" into their search box. To protect the privacy of their customers, most carriers require you to sign in before using this service.

Charges

Sending text messages from your computer to friends' cell phones is free for you but can result in charges to the recipients. Before texting, be sure the recipient has a texting plan or is willing to pay the cost associated with receiving text messages.

Source:

Yahoo! Messenger: SMS - Send text messages to mobile phones

AOL Mobile: IM to Mobile

LyteByte.com: How to Find Your Cell Phone's Email Address?