Summary: Well, let's clear one thing up right away: cell phone text messaging, or "SMS" text messaging, is not the same as instant messaging on your computer. They're two very different systems.
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Can a computer (laptop or desktop) text message a cell phone, and can a cell phone text message a computer? If so, how? |
Well, let's clear one thing up right away: cell phone text messaging, or "SMS" text messaging, is not the same as instant messaging on your computer. They're two very different systems.
That doesn't mean all is lost, however. There are some things you can do. How much depends mostly on the cellular provider, and the type of phone you have.
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SMS Text Messaging
SMS stands for Short Message Service, and is designed specifically for cell phones.
You can usually send an SMS message to a cell phone via email. Most of the cell phone providers have a special email address or domain that you can send a message to, which then gets forwarded as a text message to the cell phone. For example with Verizon in the U.S., you can email ##########@vtext.com, where "##########" is replaced with the 10 digit cellular number, and that message will get sent as a text message to that phone. Other carriers typically have some type of equivalent and/or a web page from which you can send a text message to one of their phones.
Important: remember that this is a Short message service ... usually only up to a certain number of characters of your message will be sent. Some providers will simply truncate your message if it's too long, others will break it up into multiple messages. Others might well discard, or bounce the message back to you. Check with the provider in question.
The reverse may also work. Again, using Verizon I was able to send a message via SMS on my phone to my email address.
In all cases, remember that this is email based, and that response times may be significantly longer as people do, or do not, check their email.
Instant Messaging
IM services, like AOL's AIM, MSN's Instant Messenger and the others are all designed as what I'll call "computer to computer" services. They all kinda sorta assume that you've got a computer of some sort. Fair enough.
Many cell phones these days pretty much are computers. Many cellphones run things like the Palm operating system, or a version of Windows.
And many have internet capability.
So, it stands to reason that one might be able to find an instant messaging client for your cell phone. In my case, using my Treo and an unlimited data access plan from Verizon, I'm able to run the Mundu IM instant messaging client and chat using my MSN Instant Messenger account, or my AOL Instant Messenger account.
The big caveat here is that you must have an internet capable cell phone and have signed up for an internet data plan of some sort.
Related:
I Love My Treo I geek out a little and gush about my Treo ... from the pasture?
Leo Notenboom (personal blog) - What's on my Treo?
Article C2575 - February 28, 2006
If it's under 10 digits (CSC), you should try this site. Most only allow full 10 digit numbers, but this one routes them through their GSM modem, if it's CSC. I ran a radio contest a few weeks ago, and we had a 5 digit code. I sent some test texts to our number, and it worked perfectly. A little delayed (maybe a minute or so), but still got there eventually. They allow 10 digits numbers too, those are much easier to test. Those come through almost immediately.
http://www.fivedigittext.com/
Posted by: Tom Anderson at June 15, 2009 7:23 AMG-mail Labs has a feature that allows you to send SMS messages via the chat. You can also receive messages back. When you start typing in the little area where it shows "Search, Add or Invite" you'll get an option for SMS. Click on it to add the person and you'll get a window to type the message.
**This is currently only for US phones!**
Posted by: Danielle at June 15, 2009 2:06 PMwhether we can send the sms to cellphone if the mobile is not having the internet capability
Posted by: sandeep at June 17, 2009 11:51 PMi wana text my friends but how do i do it 4rm a labtop?? please help me
Posted by: yanisa Joaquin at June 20, 2009 6:41 PMmy friend has alltel. how do i send a message to him from my computer? i'm not for sure what the whole address would be.
Posted by: Angel at June 22, 2009 12:41 PMi use to have that problem not knowing what to do angel but alot of my friends have alltel so i had to figure it out now that i figure it out i text them from my computer everyday.how you do it is ##########@message.alltel.com
Posted by: rashad heyward at June 22, 2009 3:10 PMYou can send sms between computer and cell phone with various of programs like ICQ. Also you can use text2land.com to send sms to landline phones and to reply from landline phone to cell phone.
Posted by: sms at June 23, 2009 2:08 AMTry www.fivedigittext.com to send free text messages from your PC. If you register (for free), you can receive replies too!
Posted by: Tom Anderson at June 29, 2009 9:31 AMI would like to send a text message to China I live in Australia and they can not recive '
Posted by: Laurie Campbell at June 29, 2009 7:29 PMRegards Laurie Campbell
www.textem.net ....you can just go to that website and make an account...
Posted by: Petrovick at July 3, 2009 2:16 PMP.S= You must know what kind of operator the phone that yoiu are sending the message is, For example; Sprint,Verizon,T-Mobile.