Most cell phones have the ability to send and receive text messages. To take advantage of the service, users have to pay for the privilege. Usually, providers offer some type of media package to determine the cost for the service. People with unlimited packages often pay less than individuals who pay per SMS message. Individuals who want to skip the fees, often turn to Internet-based businesses offering free texting.
How Does Free SMS Work?
The terms of service for businesses offering to send SMS messages for free vary from company to company. As a business, the provider needs to make money in order to keep the company afloat. So how does it make a profit? In most cases, the answer is by charging the receiver of the text message. Because the sender doesn't incur a charge, providers can market the service as free.
The amount SMS providers charge the receiver varies by company, but it can well exceed the normal rate for texting. According to TextMeFree.com, sms-txt.co.uk charges the receiver up to £2 for SMS messages. The high rate has left some customers unhappy with the service.
To combat customer discontent, some providers like Peekamo are looking for ways to offer texting without charging the sender or receiver. Peekamo uses short message peer to peer instead of SMS, but the result is still a text-based message received on a cell phone. In order to make money, the company has sponsors for messages, which means people will see an ad from the sponsor included with the text.
Where to Find Free SMS
There are several providers offering free SMS service. Some work only in certain countries, while others offer international service. TextingForFree.com provides a directory of free SMS companies that includes the following ones:
- Text 4 Free
- SMS Everywhere
- Monkeymaximus Text Messaging
- Chikka
Other popular services include Orange SMS, TeleFlip and Gizmo SMS. In addition to these companies, some mobile phone companies like Verizon offer a free texting service.
Privacy and SMS Messages
Aside from looking at the charges associated with free texting, a person may want to take privacy into consideration. Earlier modules for SMS service often had issues with security. One company failed to hide cell phone numbers, allowing anyone with access to the code the ability to snatch the number.
Some SMS providers will store cell phone numbers entered into their Web-based modules. While many companies hold the numbers to track statistics, others might sell the numbers to companies wanting to market through SMS.
In many cases, companies use widgets or other Web-based applications that people use to manage their SMS messages. Depending on the company, the application or box may stay open, allowing anyone with access to the computer the ability to see the messages. Some companies store the information for the user, allowing it to pop up as soon as a person connects to the Internet.
Working with Free SMS
While sending text messages for free may seem like a good idea, people need to take into consideration the actual cost involved and determine whether or not the service is the best option. If a person decides to use a free SMS provider, like Verizon, he or she should read through the terms of service, or conditions, and the about page to learn more about the company and its policies.
Individuals should also keep in mind SMS etiquette, especially as the use for text messages expands. Most providers work to prevent spam, and the definition for junk texts may differ from one company to the next. It's also a good idea to consider the possibility the receiver may send the sender a response, in which case the sender would incur the charges for the second text message.
Tara McClendon - Tara McClendon is a Texas-based freelance writer and editor. Aside from writing for Suite101, Tara is currently working on a YA novel ...
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