How to Send a Text to an ATT Customer

Using Gmail
1. Go to the Gmail website. Enter your login and password if you have a Gmail account. If you do not have a Gmail account, you can open one by selecting the option 'Create an Account.' If creating an account, follow the directions and enter the required information in the corresponding boxes.
2. Select 'Settings' in the upper-right corner of the page once you are logged on.
3. Choose the tab that says 'Labs.'
4. Scroll down to the tab that says 'Text Messaging (SMS) in Chat' and select 'Enable,' and then select the 'Save Changes' box at the bottom of the page. You will be taken back to your home page.
5. Enter the cell phone number of the person you are texting in the white box under 'Chat' on the left side of the screen. Select 'Send SMS' from the drop-down menu that appears. Leave the chat box open if you are expecting a text back. If the person replies, the message will appear as an instant message. You will not be charged for sending this text message, but the person who receives it will pay a standard messaging rate.
Using AT&T
6. Log on to AT&T's website.
7. Enter your wireless number or ID and password in the boxes under 'Manage Your Account.' Select 'Go.' If you are not registered online, you can do it here by selecting 'Register for Account Management' and following the directions.
8. Choose 'Message Center.' It's located at the top of the navigation bar.
9. Enter the AT&T customer's cell phone number in the 'Send To' box.
10. Type your message in the 'Message' box. You can only type up to 150 characters. Press 'Send.' You will not be charged for sending this text message, but the person who you sent it to will be.
From Your AT&T Cell Phone
11. Turn on your phone by pressing the power button.
12. Select the 'Messaging' option if you are using an AT&T exclusive smart phone like the iPhone. Smart phones have a specific messaging function. Depending on your model, it may have the icon of an envelope.
13. Select the option to write a new text message. On iPhones, this option looks like a box with a pencil inside. Type your message using your keypad into the entry field. Enter the number of the person you want to send the text to. If his name is saved on your phone, then you can just enter his name. Press 'Send.'

How to Send Large Text Messages to a Cell Phone for Free

1. Log in to your email account and open a new blank email message.
2. Enter the cell phone's text message email address in the 'To' field of the message. (See Resources.) The cell phone's text email address usually features the ten digit mobile number followed by the mobile carriers SMS gateway extension.
3. Enter the subject in the 'Subject' field of the email if you desire. You can leave the subject blank if you desire.
4. Enter your message in the body of the email.
5. Press 'Send' from your email's message options to deliver the message. You message will be delivered to the text messaging inbox of the recipient's cell phone.

How to Send Text Messages to a Cell Unknown for Free

1. Visit a free text messaging website. Text For Free Online, Text 2 Day and Text 'Em are popular examples. You do not have to provide your cell phone number or e-mail address.
2. Read the Terms of Service before texting.
3. Fill in the provided form with the person's cell phone number, cell phone carrier and the text message in the appropriate boxes. Click 'Send.' A page will load stating your message was sent to the recipient.

How to Make Free Long

From a Computer
1. Sign up for an online telephony service such as Google Voice (link in Resources). If you already have a Google account, you can activate Google Voice from there. If you don't have a Google account, sign up for an account and then activate Google Voice.
2.
Sometimes microphone and speaker cables are colored to match the jacks.
Select your Google Voice phone number and enter your personal information as necessary during the site activation process.
3. Plug your microphone into the audio input jack on your computer or into a USB jack if it is a USB device. On many computers, the microphone jack is colored pink or red. Most newer laptops come with a microphone built in.
4. Plug your speakers or headphones into the audio output jack on your computer or into a USB jack if they are a USB device. On many computers, the audio output jack is colored green. Most laptops come with speakers built in.
5. Dial the long-distance phone number in Google Voice and talk for as long as you like.
From a Smartphone
6. Go to the NetTalk signup page (link in Resources) and create a free account.
7. From the iTunes Store or Android Appstore, download the NetTalk app and install it on your smartphone.
8. Connect your smartphone to a W-iFi network. If you don't have access to a Wi-Fi network at home, many coffee shops and fast food restaurants offer free Wi-Fi access to customers.
9. Dial the long-distance number in the NetTalk app and talk for as long as you like.
From a Landline
10. Visit the website of a local-switching service such as Freephone2phone (link in Resources).
11. Locate a connection number for your area code or local calling area, and call that phone number.
12. Listen to the audio ads which support the service. Most services play one or two ads of no more than 15 seconds in length.
13. When prompted, dial the long-distance phone number you are trying to reach. You will be limited to a free call of ten minutes. Every connection service has its own time limit for calls, and most will play a warning tone or message when your time is about to run out.

How to Send Receive an SMS on Skype

SMS to Skype Contact
1. Open the Skype program from your Windows desktop or programs menu.
2. Go to the 'Contacts' tab and find the name of the person you want to send a text message.
3. Right-click the contact and select 'Send SMS Message' from the sub-menu.
4. Type your message in the text box. Click 'Send SMS' when you are ready to send your message.
Send SMS to Phone Number
5. Launch the Skype software and go to the 'Call Phones' tab. Choose the country flag if you are sending your text internationally.
6. Enter the phone number and then press the 'SMS' button.
7. Type your message of up to 160 characters in the text box. Click the 'Send SMS' button to send it. If the text has been successfully sent, you will see a 'SMS:Delivered' status update appear next to your text message.

How to Get Free Prepaid Phone Cards

1. Contact your phone service provider to ask about free prepaid phone cards and in what circumstances, if any, the company will give them out.
2. Sign up for free phone cards on phone card websites like phoneshark.com. Usually the company will need your email and mailing address, which they will give to their advertising partners. They might also ask you to fill out a brief survey.
3. Take advantage of company promotions. As of November 2010, phonecardsmile.com was giving away free prepaid phone cards in exchange for feedback on its website.
4. Sign up for a free phone card trial. As of November 2010, the phone card company Nobelcom was offering free phone cards to those wanting to try out their service.

How to Send SMS Over VoIP

1. Choice a VoIP texting service. Three that you can consider are DiamondCard, VoIPna, and VbuzzerSMS. As of 2010 it is free to register for these services, but individual texts usually cost two or three cents.
2. Register with the service by creating a username and password and providing a valid email address.
3. Confirm your registration by clicking on the link that is sent to your email inbox. Afterwards, log into your chosen service's website using your registered username and password.
4. Look for the 'SMS sender' tab and click the 'Send SMS' link. In the 'To' field, type the recipient's mobile number. Provide the recipient's country code. Provide your mobile number in the 'From' field.
5. Type the body of your message in the box provided. Take note to limit your SMS message to 140 characters only. Once done, click on the 'Send' link and a prompt will tell you that your message has been successfully delivered.