Depending on the service provider, you may be able to send text messages for free online. Most cell phone providers will allow you to visit their website and send a text message. Verizon, Alltel, and ATT are three providers that I know will allow you to send text messages to anyone. You do not have to be a member of the service provider to send the messages. The person you are sending the message to must be a member of the provider. For example, if you are sending a text message to someone who is on the Verizon network, you will need to visit the Verizon website to send the text message. So, it really doesn't matter which provider you use, it matters which provider the person you are sending it to uses.
You will need to visit the provider's website of the person you want to send the message to. Then you will need to look for the website's texting section. Once you find the texting section, you should see an option of sending a text right from the website. Most of the sites require that you enter the person's phone number you are sending the text to and the message. There will be more fields, but those fields are not required most of the time. Most providers will limit you on characters typed. You will see the box of characters right below the text box if this is the case. Once you run out of characters, you will not be able to type anymore. You will have to send that text and then create a new one.
Another way to send text messages online is by using your email account. Each cell phone provider provides an email address for each phone. It is the number @ the cell phone providers address. For example, Verizon addresses will end with @vtext.com. So, if you wanted to send a text through email, you would send it to 5555555555@vtext.com. To find out the cell phone providers email address, you would need to get your friend or whoever to send you a text to your email. Once you receive the email, you can then store the address in your contacts.
To send a text message online through email, visit your email account. Create a new email the way you normally would. When the new message window opens, type the phone number @ the service provider's address in the To field. There should be no spaces between the number and the service provider. Next, you can type your message in the message or body field. Do not type a subject. Typing a subject will just take up more room. Be sure to keep your message short, however, this is a text you are sending, not an email. Once you are ready to send the text, click the Send button. The text will then be delivered to the person's phone.
