Texting to the USA

Any suggestions on how to text from abroad back to my friends in the US? My cellphone company wants to charge like $0.50 for each text I send and receive which is a little out of my budget. Thanks

I was able to setup Google Voice and can now use that to send/receive texts for free.

You'll need an invite for Google Voice, and the initial setup needs to be done from a non-UK IP address (so you'll need a friend's help or to use a VPN). After it's setup, though, you can use the mobile Google Voice website and send/receive text messages that way.

Skype is another option, but I think they charge per text, I'm not sure how much though. (I only use Skype for calling which is a flat rate per year.)

Hope that helps, PM me if you'd like more details on how I set it up.

I do exactly what E does...
I have google voice as well and can reply straight from my email since it forwards there.
Beautiful thing...

Get someone to apply for an invite as it does take some time to get ;-)

I was able to setup Google Voice and can now use that to send/receive texts for free.

You'll need an invite for Google Voice, and the initial setup needs to be done from a non-UK IP address (so you'll need a friend's help or to use a VPN). After it's setup, though, you can use the mobile Google Voice website and send/receive text messages that way.

Skype is another option, but I think they charge per text, I'm not sure how much though. (I only use Skype for calling which is a flat rate per year.)

Hope that helps, PM me if you'd like more details on how I set it up.

Never heard of google voice till now. I will definitely try it out.

Skype is another option, but I think they charge per text, I'm not sure how much though. (I only use Skype for calling which is a flat rate per year.)

It's cheap to send texts from Skype, but the last time I used that service, it wasn't reliable and quite often a strange number shows up on the receiver's phone, if it shows up at all. Also, they generally can't text you back unless you're actually having a Skype conversation, which is simply instant messaging, so not texting. However, it's been a while since I used this and it could be a bit better now.

I don't think my skype texts to the USA went through.  I asked people, and they didn't remember getting anything.

If you download the US version of AOL instant messenger you can send text for free to a US cell phone and they can text back and it doesn't charge them (other than what sending a text to a US phone would!).

I use skype to text DB, and it allows you to input your own mobile number that will show up on the receiver's mobile, and then they can reply directly to you - otherwise, at least on his iphone, it shows up as my skype username.   It only costs me 9 cents per text as opposed to 40 cents through my mobile plan - not sure about the other way around but I would assume it's even cheaper to text US numbers.  AFAIK he always gets them.  One downside, you can't text from skype mobile, so you have to be at your computer  Wish DB would start doing it, as it costs him something like 80p per to text me!   Shall look into google voice for us

I just ordered a new tmobile phone and was looking through their site.  I see they have an international sim card that allows you to make calls to the US for 5p a minute and text for 15p

http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/mobile-phones/price-plans/pay-as-you-go/international/

We use facebook messages for texting. As long as you set your facebook notifications to text inbox messages to your phone then your all set. It's free as well.

The only issue we have ever had is if it's a long email then you need to log into facebook to read it but with smart phones these days and facebook mobile on most phones that's not an issue

Deleted posts re chime as the same person was responding themselves. Clever spam.

On topic, there is a resource page for email to text and other tools here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_carriers_providing_Email_or_Web_to_SMS

I third the google voice. You no longer need an invite and it's completely free. You can also make an html5 bookmark for it on your iPhone or use the app on an Android phone and as long as you have data, use it when you're out and about. And if you wind up back in the US you can hand out your g'voice phone number and have it forward to where-ever you are.
But you have to have a US IP and phone number to set it up so you may need help from a friend back in the states.