SMS & Text Messaging
Short Message Service (SMS) is a protocal that allows short text messages to be sent and received on cell phones and other mobile devices. SMS messages are limited to 140 or 160 characters depending on the wireless carrier. Texting is not only incredibly popular worldwide but extremely profitable for cell phone carriers.
Text messages can be sent when coverage may not be good enough for a phone call to go through. Texting is quicker and less obtrusive than calling if you just want to tell someone something. A bucket of SMS messages are part of many calling plans and using SMS can reduce the number of minutes you use, saving you money.
SMS messages can be sent from many carriers web sites and can be sent to and from email usins what are called SMS gateways.
Each carrier has their own email addressing format but in general it's area code + phone number at carrier.com, for example 2065551234@tmomail.com for T-Mobile customers. Click on the carrier's name in the list below to navigate to their web interface (except Virgin Mobile).
Alltell: 2065551234@message.alltel.comBell Canada: 2065551234@txt.bell.ca
Cellular One (Dobson): 2065551234@mobile.celloneusa.com
Fido (Microcell Canada): 2065551234@fido.ca
Nextel: 2065551234@messaging.nextel.com
Qwest: 2065551234@qwestmp.com
Rogers (Canada): 2065551234@pcs.rogers.com
Sprint (PCS): 2065551234@messaging.sprintpcs.com
Suncom: 2065551234@tms.suncom.com
T-Mobile: 2065551234@tmomail.net
Telus Mobility (Canada): 2065551234@msg.telus.com
Verizon: 2065551234@vzwpix.com
US Cellular: 2065551234@email.uscc.net
Virgin Mobile (US): 2065551234@vmobl.com
Virgin Mobile (Canada): 2065551234@vmobile.ca
Vodacom (S Africa): 2065551234@voda.co.za
Text Messaging on wikiHow
wikiHow has a good overview and how-to about text messaging that's pretty comprehensive.
Yahoo! & SMS: not to be undone
Yahoo also has a web interface to free SMS messages. Yahoo! lets you use SMS as a chat medium. Pretty kewl!
Google & SMS: together at last
Now you can search Google through SMS messages. It's a handy way to tap the power of Google without a computer (because we all know you always have your mobile phone with you). Start by using the Google search mobile help.
Starbucks & SMS
Find the nearest Starbucks by SMS text message. You can also text to "697289" (that's MYSBUX) followed by your ZIP code. The mermaid will reply with the locations of the three closest Starbucks.
SMS Services
Tired of paying to send text messages? Send free text messages to almost any USA cell phone provider, for free, with no gimmicks!
Schedule text messages to be sent to you in advance. Setup reminders to your cell phone with TextMemos. It's free and works with any cell phone.
MMS: Multimedia Messaging Service
Learn which cellular carriers exchange MMS message with each other.
