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