How to Send a Free Text to a Cell Phone Via a PC

Texting Via Email
1. Launch your email server. Alternatively, if you prefer web-based email, log in to your Internet-based email account.
2. Compose a new message. Click the 'New' or 'Compose' button to start a new message.
3. Address the email. You must know the email address for the phone you want to text. Cell phone email addresses are usually in the format phonenumber@carrier.com. For example, if you want to text a Sprint phone with the number (212) 555-1212, you must address the message to 2125551212@messaging.sprintpcs.com. Note that the dashes and parentheses are removed for the phone's web address.The email addresses for some major phone carriers are listed below:AT&T: number@txt.att.net
Nextel: number@messaging.nextel.com
Sprint: number@messaging.sprintpcs.com
T-Mobile: number@tmomail.net
Verizon: number@vtext.com
Virgin: number@vmobl.com
4. Compose the message. Remember that most text messages are limited to 160 characters. Depending on the cellular carrier, anything beyond 160 characters may be split into additional messages or not sent at all. So keep your message brief.
5. Click the 'Send' button in your email server. Although your email is not routed directly to the phone, it will be forwarded by the cellular carrier as a text message.
Texting Via AOL Instant Messenger
6. Launch AOL Instant Messenger (AIM). Log in using your AOL screen name or an AIM email address.
7. Start a new instant message. Click on the 'People' menu and select 'Send Instant Message.'
8. Address the message. In the 'To' field, enter the cell phone number you want to text, including the country code. For example, if sending a text message to the US number (212) 555-1212, you must also include the country code, which is +1 in this case. The 'To' field must read +12125551212.
9. Compose the message. Remember that your text message is limited to 160 characters.
10. Send the message. Press the 'Send' button in AIM. Your text message will be directed to the cell phone number listed in the 'To' field. You will receive an instant message confirming the message was received.
Texting Via Carrier Websites
11. Locate the cellular carrier's text message website. Most cell phone carriers offer an online tool that lets you send text messages via a website. Use a search engine or contact the cell phone carrier to see what web address is used for sending text messages.
12. Log in to the website. Some carriers require you to log in to send a message to a customer via the web-based browser. This is done to keep users from receiving unwanted, anonymous text messages.
13. Enter the phone number. Use the ten-digit phone number, including area code.
14. Compose the message. As you type your text, remember that text transmissions are limited to 160 characters per message.
15. Send the text. Click the 'Send' button on the cell phone carrier's website to send the message to a user's phone.