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Send Free Text Messages From AIM If You're Too Cheap to Pay

Submitted by Michael Johnston on July 14, 2008 - 10:27pm.
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Now that AT&T has removed the complimentary 200 SMS messages from the iPhone 3G data plan, I'm betting that some are looking for a cheaper alternative to sending texts. Luckily, AIM for iPhone supports sending text messages via the AIM service, which is totally free. To use this method, sign in with your AIM account on an iPhone. When you're all logged in, tap the "new message" icon. Where you would normally specify a username, enter a mobile number instead. Be sure to add '+1' and the area code before, though.

While this method may sound good in theory, it does have its share of drawbacks. First, messages sent from AIM don't come from your mobile number, so your recipients won't know who it is. Also, SMS messages received from AIM still count as incoming texts, meaning the savings are only on your end.

Although it may come in handy for sporadic messages every now and then, if you use it often, a text plan is really worth it.

Submitted by Kevin Dunahee on July 15, 2008 - 2:39am.
I did know about this, but I definitely don't understand it for sure. If I understand how this works correctly, the AIM account that the messages are sent from is always changing. For instance, somebody couldn't send a return message to me once I log out of AIM and log back in right? Ugh. This is going to get messy. So if that is the case, is there any way to receive them through AIM?

Submitted by kellygeorge on July 15, 2008 - 4:36pm.
from what i understand the AIM is always on. there is no log out option, so when you "close" it, it just sets you to away to your friends. this is why when you open it back up you receive a bunch of messages that you got while you were away. once they have the push system set up, you will get those messages as pop ups, or badges or whatever. they talked about this push system for notifications at WWDC, but i dont think its online yet. so you should theoretically just always receive messages at any time, i dont think it matters if your IP keeps changing.

then again, i could be very wrong and have no idea what im talking about.

Submitted by fazeizme on July 15, 2008 - 6:14pm.
or you could just make a yahoo or gmail account and e mail people's phone that's what i do all you do is need the suscribers like if they have t mobile it would be 1 plus the numbe @tmomail.com works for me great

Submitted by Kevin Dunahee on July 15, 2008 - 10:23pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by fazeizme View Post
or you could just make a yahoo or gmail account and e mail people's phone that's what i do all you do is need the suscribers like if they have t mobile it would be 1 plus the numbe @tmomail.com works for me great
What you're saying sounds very interesting. However, I'm pretty sure you lost me. so hypothetically I could text a phone using the phone's cell number @ carrier.com? Sounds too good to be true. So 1234567890@att.com? That would almost be the perfect solution if I'm understanding this right, which I likely am not.

Submitted by Peter000 on July 15, 2008 - 11:02pm.
I signed up for AIM mobile support, so folks can text me when I'm offline, and promptly forgot about it. But tonight my neice did it and I thought, WTH, she NEVER texts me!

But I discovered she used that service from AIM, and I thought.. ah-HA! And I opened up AIM Mobile on my iphone and had a conversation with her. Essentially the Text was the initial contact, and I moved it over to the real client for the rest. Worked really slick!

Submitted by Kevin Dunahee on July 15, 2008 - 11:23pm.
So how would one go about texting an AIM account from a normal candy-bar junker phone?

*Sigh* I'm such a n00b.

Submitted by kellygeorge on July 15, 2008 - 11:51pm.
most crap phones have AIM on them already, even the free ones. check the menus and look for an instant messenger.

Submitted by Kevin Dunahee on July 15, 2008 - 11:59pm.
My phone does not have any sort of AIM client. Just when I thought my phone couldn't suck anymore. Thanks.

Submitted by Spacey on July 16, 2008 - 9:58am.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Superman View Post
What you're saying sounds very interesting. However, I'm pretty sure you lost me. so hypothetically I could text a phone using the phone's cell number @ carrier.com? Sounds too good to be true. So 1234567890@att.com? That would almost be the perfect solution if I'm understanding this right, which I likely am not.
This is available from a lot of carriers. AT&T is in this format:
XXXXXXXXXX@mms.att.net. You don't have to put 1+ or anything. Just the ten-digit number.

Have someone text your email address from their phone and look at the address whence it came. Add that to your contacts.

AOL Instant Messenger and Free Text Messaging

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on July 17, 2008 - 11:52pm.
Just want to add to this thread that I have an iPod Touch and have used this technique and it works great. Using AOL Instant Messenger, you just install the app, open it, log in, select the bottom right hand option for IM. Then select the icon for writing a message at the top right corner of the screen.

In the To: field, you can send a message to any cell phone number by typing +1 and then the ten digit number, ie: +13103995564. Not only will the person on the receiving end get your message, but that recipient can write back and it appears on your Touch or Phone as a chat session. Very cool. (Note: the number you put in will be added automatically to your buddy list)

There is an option to set AOL IM on your iTouch or iPhone so that it shuts off each time you exit the program, or stays connected. Just go to your general settings and scroll down till you see the AOL icon. There you will see the option after you select the icon.

I live in Mexico, and this has been so much fun connecting to my friends on their cell phones in the States, and for FREE! Of course, they pay for the text on their end depending on their plan.

Submitted by fazeizme on July 18, 2008 - 8:03am.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Superman View Post
What you're saying sounds very interesting. However, I'm pretty sure you lost me. so hypothetically I could text a phone using the phone's cell number @ carrier.com? Sounds too good to be true. So 1234567890@att.com? That would almost be the perfect solution if I'm understanding this right, which I likely am not.


super man if you go to the att,verizon t mobile site ect there is on the site where it says send text message well when u do that it gives out the text message address like att is example 1234567@att.net now that will text it to the persons phone.. now if you have a yahoo or g mail account set taht up and use it on ur i phone and people can text u thru ur e mail all day long u just have to send out the first text and have them use that to text you. i've been doing that for almost a year it's free. I hope that explains it better

Submitted by fazeizme on July 18, 2008 - 8:04am.
Quote:
Originally Posted by fazeizme View Post
super man if you go to the att,verizon t mobile site ect there is on the site where it says send text message well when u do that it gives out the text message address like att is example 1234567@att.net now that will text it to the persons phone.. now if you have a yahoo or g mail account set taht up and use it on ur i phone and people can text u thru ur e mail all day long u just have to send out the first text and have them use that to text you. i've been doing that for almost a year it's free. I hope that explains it better


also super man if you have a i phone u can pm me ur number and i'll send it thru the email to show you how it works

Is aim txt messaging cost?

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on July 21, 2008 - 5:43pm.
Is aim txt messaging cost to the recipient???is really free?
anyways aim txt messaging is awesome!

Submitted by xxx on July 21, 2008 - 8:08pm.
Sounds like a good B plan but I think would get a little annoying after using this plan in the long run. However, it does work.. Maybe good for sending messages to non-ATT phone numbers

Submitted by Kevin Dunahee on July 22, 2008 - 1:32am.
Quote:
Originally Posted by fazeizme View Post
also super man if you have a i phone u can pm me ur number and i'll send it thru the email to show you how it works
I don't have an iPhone just yet, but I will take you up on that offer when I do. Shouldn't be long now. 1-2 weeks I'm told.

How do I send a text message to a mexican cell phone number?

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on August 9, 2008 - 10:10pm.
You mentioned that you send text messages to cell phone in the US, but how would I send a text message to a Mexican cell phone number?

Any help would be great! thank you

Send & Recieve Unlimited SMS messages

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on August 22, 2008 - 11:53am.
How to send and receive unlimited SMS messages from your iPhone (assuming you have an unlimited data plan). The steps are as follows:

1. Create a new email message.
2. In the To: box, type 10digitnumber@teleflip.com. (1235551234@teleflip.com)
3. Type a message and click send.
4. The message will be sent to the cell phone with the number in the To: box
5. All recieved text messages will be sent to you as an email.
They use the free service Teleflip.com to route your email messages to SMS and back. The service is free, but only works in U.S. and Canada.

This means you won’t be getting instant notifications of these SMS->email messages since you have to wait until your email updates. This will be far less of an issue once MobileMe is deployed as you will be able to get Push email sent to your iPhone

or

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on August 25, 2008 - 1:03pm.
Or you can download the mobile chat app and it does all this for you and adds the number to your buddy list. Just click chat and then the new chat button in the corner and add any contact's mobile number to the chat

Seriously good stuff. The app is a bit buggy still but it's the best chat client out there so far

Submitted by Beast on August 25, 2008 - 5:29pm.
Alltel = xxxxxxxxxx@message.alltel.com
AT&T = xxxxxxxxxx@mms.att.net
Boost Mobile = xxxxxxxxxx@myboostmobile.com
Cingular (AT&T) = xxxxxxxxxx@mms.mycingular.com
Einstein PCS = xxxxxxxxxx@einsteinmms.com
Sprint = xxxxxxxxxx@messaging.sprintpcs.com
T-Mobile = xxxxxxxxxx@tmomail.net
US Cellular = xxxxxxxxxx@mms.uscc.net
Verizon Wireless = xxxxxxxxxx@vzwpix.com
Virgin Mobile = xxxxxxxxxx@vmobl.com

Send Text Free

Submitted by wetextfree on December 8, 2008 - 4:07am.
Thanks for the info Beast. Your can save yourself some of the trouble by using www.wetextfree.com. They send text messages to all of these providers. I use it and it works about 96% of the time. I Think the bad 4% percent is becuase of the cellphone providers gateway. As you should know these gateways are not 100% guaranteed

Text from is Annoying.

Submitted by wmmguru on December 14, 2008 - 2:41pm.
text from a IM Client is free but annoying. I don't text alot and At&t gives me 100 free text, so i rarely start texting from AIM. only if i'm desperate. the SMS iPhone app is much more elegant and i love the threaded messages.

sidebar text from Aim using a computer is much more better. that i do!

-wmmGuru

Submitted by iLiam on December 15, 2008 - 3:30am.
How do i set up an aim account