internet bases SMS for free texting to overseas?

alex jb · #1 (**permalink**) 04-15-2009, 02:52 PM

I couldn't fins what I was looking for so I thought I'd ask here.

Does anyone use an internet based sms service that can text over seas (UK) from your browser on your phone?

I have a Sprint touch and every month I use only 10% of my mins, 10% of my texts but plenty of data (as it's unlimited).
My problem is my friends back in the UK keep texting me like they used to, one or two word texts, then another, just like threaded texting and mobile companies want you to...
Problem is it costs me $0.20 to receive each one!
I'm spending $10 - 15 a month on top of my contract on receiving texts and sending the odd one back

What I need is a service or program that uses my data plan to send & receive texts...?
I don't have a UK cell phone anymore so I can't use some of the web based ones, as you need a valid mobile number for the other person to reply to (receiving sms is free on all networks in UK).

Any one any ideas PLEASE

**popdog54** · #2 (**permalink**) 04-15-2009, 05:03 PM

You can send texts to each other's email addresses instead of phone numbers..

alex jb · #3 (**permalink**) 04-15-2009, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by popdog54

You can send texts to each other through email.

I know I can send to them via sprint to US phones phonenumber@messaging.sprintpcs.com

but don't know how to send them internationally? to a phone that I don't know the network for, all I have is the number.

I have smart phone -- they have dumb phone
e-mail --> text
e-mail <-- text

this two way e-mail to text and text back to e-mail is what I'm looking for.

**popdog54** · #4 (**permalink**) 04-15-2009, 06:10 PM

You can send a text to an actually email address, ie xxxx@ gmail.com. But since they have dumb phones I doubt they have a pop3 or imap email account set up.

alex jb · #5 (**permalink**) 04-16-2009, 04:49 PM

yep, they have dumb phones and they are in UK.

So, I need to send from a web page or e-mail acount to text and they need to be able to reply via sms to the number that the sms arrives from, that is then sent to a web page storage space or to an e-mail address.

that's what I'm looking for.

Maybe there aren't any free servecis that are worth using, I've tried a few and they are either a painfull process or the person I send to cannot reply.

I would use a service that is paid for like textmagic but it works out at about $0.15 per message sending and reciving... that's only 5cents cheaper than just carying on being robbed by sprint!

it's just bugging me because I have 300 texts/ month, I use about 20 (within US) and the rest go unused, but the ones I send across the pond I get charged for at $0.20/text.
Plus there is no international text package that I could sign up to like there is with calling.

**popdog54** · #6 (**permalink**) 04-16-2009, 05:27 PM

Do they have data plans? If so they may be able to use an IM app.

alex jb · #7 (**permalink**) 04-17-2009, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by popdog54

Do they have data plans? If so they may be able to use an IM app.

Thanks for bearing with me, but nope.

It's mainly my parents and other people of their generation who have only just got to grips with sms...
my dad only took the 'post it' note off the back of his phone last year, which had all the numbers he used written on it... yes he did type them in each time to make a call

piranah · #8 (**permalink**) 04-17-2009, 05:34 PM

yea i would say they would have to get new technology, or start to use email. since they have dumb phones, there is not really a way to get around this. unless they have some sort of mobile service, like they have a razr with a simple browser and can send email from it, your kinda up a creek.....sorry to say ...