Does anyone know of an inexpensive (like FREE ) method of sending SMS text messages to a cell phone from Mac OS X?

A friend's phone is continually full of voice messages, and he doesn't clear them for days at a time.

I looked around on the Web, but information is sparse, or in one case, non-functional.

iChat will send SMS messages. You can put in a phone number as a "buddy", or if the contact has a mobile number, right-click on it and one choice will be "Send SMS".

This http://gizmosms.com/ works if you have an earlier version of iChat or you are in the library using a PC. Limited to short messages.

Thanks guys. iChat 3.1.8 didn't work for me, but I think GizmoSMS did work. (I haven't received any replies yet.) Perhaps a newer version of iChat will work for other people??

I have iChat 3.1.9. Right click to select the Buddy (which is a cellphone number) did not give me any SMS option, but there is a choice (To send instant message) up in the Buddies menu and that works. You type in the message and send. I sent one to my own cellphone. One the cellphone, you get a message saying you have an instant message from someone and, if you want to accept, to reply with the letter "a" for "accept." then the message will come through. I did this and I've not received the message yet, BUT my carrier is very slow in getting messages through, even voice messages. The last voice message I had took 35 minutes to get to me. I'm on virginmobile with that phone. Well, I sent the test message at 7:30 am. shortly thereafter I got the message asking me to reply with an "a" to accept. I did that. I did it again an hour later, because I replied with a capital "A" the first time and I thought maybe it needed a "a." It is now 10:40 -- still no SMS message on my cellhone. So maybe the AIM service from iChat to VirginMobile does not work.l

Depending which carrier they use you may be able to send from that carriers web site. Here is Verizion's & T-Mobile's

https://text.vzw.com/customer_site/jsp/messaging_lo.jsp

https://web.mms.msg.t-mobile.com/smsportal/index.html?act=smsc&locale=en

Another option! The latest version of Yahoo Messenger lets you send SMS messages. Just tested it out, works great.

Skype seems to work fine also and the message came through immediately.

Ok, I tried iChat again, and it worked, with Phyllis's directions.

I tried the T-Mobile website for SMS and it also worked. [ I was warned by the T-Mobile user that T-Mobile does block many SMS sources from other "carriers." I guess GizmoSMS is one such "carrier." ]

Which brings up another question introduced by the T-Mobile user: what's a cheap way to make international calls using a cell phone or laptop?

The T-Mobile user is a Windows/Linux user, and has tried Vonage and Skype. He doesn't like the pricing or complexity of either one. He likes magicJack, which is Mac-Intel compatible. The sound quality is very good. Apparently incoming international calls to the USA are "free," like any domestic call; outgoing international calls cost more money. The T-Mobile user conducts some international business, and is looking for a way to talk to his clients.

Your comments are invited on this 2nd question.

What countries does he need to talk to/from? I've used Skype very successfully to/from France, and, from computer to landlines, it is only 2 cents per minute. To cellphones it is more. I buy blocks of Skype out minutes.

Donna: pretty much every country in the world. 2¢/min is pretty cheap. I don't know entirely what his motivations and preferences are. (He's more "pro" Mac than his son. He just wants something convenient & easy to use. He's very suspicious of Windows, due to numerous problems.) He's not willing to try a Mac just yet.

The one instance he cited was his sister calling from a hard connection in Japan to the USA via magicJack thru a Windows computer.

Well, Skype is both Windows and Mac and works W to W, W to M, M to W, M to M. Skype to Skype (computer to computer) is free, but both parties have to have a Skype "name." Computer to landline or cellphone costs. If you need to receive calls on your computer from a landline, you can get a softphone number for your computer, which does have a fee. There are also voicemail capabilities, which involve a fee. I am not at all familiar with the other program you mention. the advantage to Skype is that you don't have to have your computer with you. You can go in to any cybercafe, which probably has Windows, and use Skype there, signing in to your account where your phone book resides. The computer must have sound capability and speaker or headphone and mike. You can direct dial numbers also if you know the number. If Skype is not installed on the cybercafe computer, and they let you install apps, you can install it and run it to make a phone call. If you are signed in on a cybercafe computer, someone with Skype on their computer can call you at that time (Skype to Skype.) Obviously you need to coordinate times if you are in different time zones. I've found it very useful. You can even do video if you have a compatible camera available.

quote:

... someone with Skype on their computer can call you at that time (Skype to Skype.)

Donna: that may be problem with Skype: both parties need to subscribe to Skype. I am certain that many of his clients are not computer literate, and may not even own a computer. They're musicians, and may very well be "TECHNOPHOBIACS." Many people are much more comfortable with telephones - and they're probably already nervous about communicating in English also.

Were you charged 11¢? We were going to try a test SMS and Skype informed us the cost would be 11¢.

quote:

Originally posted by Donna:
Skype seems to work fine also and the message came through immediately.

I don't know. It did not say anything about a charge.

I just checked my account. It cost me .112 cents for the message. This is comparable to my Verizon and VirginMobile rates for an SMS message, since I pay per message there. It came out of my SkypeOut balance. That is where they take out the 2 cents per minute for call back to a landline in the US from France. So it is more expensive to send an SMS, but that cost is comparable to the per minute cost to call a mobile phone. Ah, ha. That's why it cost .112. I sent it to a mobile phone. That's the rate pre minute to call a mobile phone from my computer.

Another suggestion: use email. Many carriers (such as AT&T for us iPhone users) have an email address for our cell phone that will convert the email to an SMS message. For example, mine (slightly modified) is:

24896163xx@txt.att.net (xx == digits of my cell#)

If you are using another carrier, a quick trip to their web site might tell you the correct address to use for your phone. It's not 2-way, but it works great for a quick message. I have my home automation software set up to email/SMS my cell phone if it detects water in the basement.

I'll look into that Nathan.

Thank you all for your helpful responses.