sending sms(text messages) from the computer

The subject has come up from a few clients recently. The question is: "Can I send my friend a text message from my computer." The answer: "Yes" with caveats and multiple options and conditions.

Like most things on the computer there are multiple ways to accomplish this (should be) simple task. There are standalone software packages for both low volume and bulk sending. Websites for the same. And, for the purposes of this discussion, I'm going to cover sending these messages from email. You can use what everever client you like (webmail, thunderbird, outlook, etc.) the process is generally the same. Simply address the message to the phone number @ the carriers sms gateway domain. For example; 2705551234@txt.att.net. (the gateway address are listed below)

Now for the caveats.

1. This method should be limited to low volume use only. Sending a message to the dozen members of your posse every friday night shouldn't be a problem. Sending daily updates to the several thousand contacts you have will get you blocked from using the gateway in no time flat. If that's your purpose, you need to read the next caveat and then look into using a bulk sms service (more on that later).
2. This method can end you up in jail with a new boyfriend named bubba. First this may be an exageration. Second this warning applies to all methods of sending unsolicited SMS. It maybe a violation of a variety of state and federal regulations and could subject you to civil and criminal penalties. At the very least, limit your recipients to people you know, or, better yet, obtain explicit permission to contact the recipient via sms. The explicit permission part applies doubly if your messages are commercial in nature.
3. You may end up costing the recipient money. Again, this applies to all methods of sending SMS messages. Most carriers (all that i know of) charge a per message fee unless the recipient is paying for unlimited messaging. Remember this is SMS, not twitter. Your mom may appriciate the hourly updates from you first month in college until she gets the $96 text messaging charge. (1 msg/hr x 16hrs /day x 30 days x .20/message).
4. Message length is limited. Partially applies to all methods. SMS messages are limited to 160 characters. When sending from email, remember your signature and subject count. Strip the signature out of the message and leave the subject blank or very short. When sending a message from email its tempting to "think email." Don't. Your fingers may not be cramped and you may not have to hit the 7 key 4 times to get an S but pretend you do. Keep it short. Use all the text messaging abbreviations you would normally use. Depending on the carrier, extra long messages may be broken into multiple messages or the excessive length may just be dropped.
5. The recipient can not reply. The message they recieve comes from the sms gateway, not from your phone. Replies are lost in the ether. Limit the messages you send this way to notifications, not conversations.
6. You can be blocked. The phone companies maintain blacklists just like all other ISPs. End up on it and messages from you email address will end up blocked. Some carriers will send back an undeliverable message. Some wont.
7. You have to know the provider. fonefinder Because people can now transfer numbers from one carrier to another, the online lookups do not always work.
   
   Cell Phone Number
   Area Code Prefix 7th digit
   
   
   
   
   

from http://www.sms411.com/
Alltel[10-digit phone number]@message.alltel.com
Example: 2125551212@message.alltel.com

AT&T (formerly Cingular)[10-digit phone number]@txt.att.net
Example: 2125551212@txt.att.net

Boost Mobile[10-digit phone number]@myboostmobile.comExample: 2125551212@myboostmobile.com

Nextel (now part of Sprint Nextel) [10-digit telephone number@messaging.nextel.com
Example: 7035551234@messaging.nextel.com

Sprint PCS (now Sprint Nextel)[10-digit phone number]@messaging.sprintpcs.comExample: 2125551234@messaging.sprintpcs.com

T-Mobile[10-digit phone number]@tmomail.net
Example: 4251234567@tmomail.net

Verizon[10-digit phone number]@vtext.com
Example: 5552223333@vtext.com

Virgin Mobile USA[10-digit phone number]@vmobl.com
Example: 5551234567@vmobl.com

Note: If all this seems complicated, there's an easier way to send email to any phone, no matter what its carrier. Just address it to [10-digit phone number]@teleflip.comExample: 2125551212@teleflip.com
More information on Teleflip

Note: Teleflip appears to be defunct. Too bad this was an excellent service and should have been supported by the carriers.