| The way we communicate with each other keeps | | | | a monthly fee (or top-up your pay-as-you-go phone |
| changing. Once, we relied on letters, telephones and | | | | often enough) you may even be allowed to send an |
| fax machines but now we prefer speedier and | | | | unlimited number of sms messages for free. |
| sometimes less intrusive forms of communication like | | | | Still, this is a costly way to send 'free sms'. |
| email or instant messenger. Even more popular, | | | | A much better way is to use so-called 'free sms |
| however, and a phenomenon of communication | | | | sites'. |
| experienced worldwide, is sending SMS text | | | | Yes, there are many, many websites that allow you |
| messages to each other via cellphones (also known | | | | to send free SMS text messages online. Simply type |
| as mobile phones or cellular phones). | | | | in your message at such a website, then the |
| So, what is SMS? | | | | cellphone number you wish to send a text message |
| Short Message Service (SMS) is the general name for | | | | to, and click the send button. Sometimes the |
| the technology which enables people to send and | | | | messages are delivered immediately, or within the |
| receive text messages via cellphones (or mobile | | | | space of an hour or so. Also, quite often there is no |
| phones). | | | | need to register to use the free sms service. |
| The GSM digital mobile phone standard (popular in | | | | Example free sms sites include sms.ac, and |
| Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and some parts | | | | Fonetastic, and you can now find free sms on too. |
| of North America) state that: "Messages can be up | | | | Like anything else on the web, some free SMS sites |
| to 160 characters of text in length". CDMA networks | | | | work better than others. For example: |
| allow greater message size and operate in North | | | | * Some open for business one week and are closed |
| & South America, Asia (China, India, Japan, | | | | the next, unable to recover their costs of delivering |
| South Korea, New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, | | | | thousands of sms text messages. (There is always a |
| etc). | | | | cost associated with sending sms text messages |
| (In actual fact, most modern cellphones using the | | | | online for the sms site concerned.) |
| GSM standard send messages larger than 160 | | | | * Some free sms sites work in one country but not |
| characters, but they do so by sending multiple | | | | another. |
| messages of 160 characters. That means that when | | | | * And, most worryingly, some free SMS sites are |
| you send a message of 330 characters in length, you | | | | simply not free -- either it costs the person to send |
| have actually sent two messages of 160 characters | | | | the sms messages, or it costs someone to receive |
| and one message of 10 characters.) | | | | them. |
| SMS messages can comprise of words, numbers or | | | | Basically, a lot of free sms text messaging sites start |
| an alphanumeric combination; binary format is even | | | | out free, then either stop working or start to charge. |
| supported. | | | | That's why a visit to a free SMS directory, where |
| Technically speaking, SMS is a store and forward | | | | sites are reviewed or commented on, is |
| service. This means that messages are not sent | | | | recommended. For example, there are more than 150 |
| directly from sender to recipient, but always via an | | | | free text messaging sites currently listed at |
| SMS center instead. You have a limited time to | | | | Is Sending Free SMS Really Safe? |
| download or receive your messages (this happens | | | | Yes. Usually. |
| automatically when you switch your cellphone on), | | | | It should be safe to send free text messages using |
| otherwise the messages are removed from the SMS | | | | a text messaging site, but many people have been |
| center concerned. | | | | caught out by services that sneakily get you to first |
| Message delivery (or failure) can be confirmed, too. | | | | join a subscription service, that often costs several |
| Note: this is a limited definition of sms. A fuller | | | | dollars per week. It can be quite difficult to |
| explanation can be found aten.wikipedia.org/wiki | | | | unsubscribe from such services, too. |
| Texting | | | | Generally speaking free SMS sites profit from the |
| How Can You Send SMS Text Messages For Free? | | | | advertising on their websites or in the actual text |
| Sending SMS is a great, quick way to communicate | | | | messages being sent; these sites don't normally |
| with friends and family. Unlike sending email, though, | | | | abuse their relationship with the people doing the |
| sending SMS messages is often not free. In the | | | | SMS texting. It's also generally true that text |
| United Kingdom, for example, messages often cost | | | | messages get sent quickly and people do not receive |
| £0.10 per message. And with people sending | | | | so-called SMS spam on their cellphone or mobile |
| tens or hundreds of messages each day, costs can | | | | phone afterwards. |
| mount up. | | | | Again, a good free SMS directory will provide enough |
| So mobile phone companies design payment plans | | | | information about a free sms service or site for you |
| that allow you to send a certain number of text | | | | to be able to decide for yourself. |
| messages free per month. Or, if you pay enough of | | | | |