How Can I Send Text Messages for Free?

[Zalo]

I've been using Google Voice to take my voice messages and let me call people for free through my laptop. Any idea how I can also text for free? (I don't have a smart phone)

[_JT]

http://www.google.com/mobile/sms/voice/

[ender]

You can use google voice to send text messages from your google voice account for free, too.

I normally send texts from my computer because I dislike typing them on my phone, anyways.

[JessieImproved]

www.google.com/voice

Just make sure all your contacts are in your google contacts and you are set.

[Richard3]

If you have a smartphone: Whatsapp, viber, and probably a dozen others use the magic of the intertubes to send text messages if your contacts play along.

[Zalo]

You can use google voice to send text messages from your google voice account for free, too.

I normally send texts from my computer because I dislike typing them on my phone, anyways.

Can you explain more specifically how to send text messages through Voice? I only see "Call" (above the "inbox" button) when I open Voice up on my laptop.

[Fireman]

On android phones, you can use Hangouts (part of Google+) to send texts over wifi.  On iPhones, you can use iMessage to communicate with other iPhone users over wifi. 

[LauraG]

Can you explain more specifically how to send text messages through Voice? I only see "Call" (above the "inbox" button) when I open Voice up on my laptop.

It sounds like you're using google voive with your existing phone number. You can only text from GV with a google voice number. Go to GV settings, make sure you're on the "phones" tab, then get a google voice number.

[theSchmett]

I use google voice to text, I love the Chrome extension that lets me text right from the corner of my browser.

HOWEVER - its been my experience that group texts and picture/movie texts that are sent to me simply never get delivered. And when I send a group text on my droid, it gets split into a few separate messages.

So use at your own discretion but I definitely use it to supplement my limited verizon text package.

[daverobev]

Text Plus - gives you a number of your own and everything. Just trying it out myself.

Not to be a conspiracy theorist (and yes I have an Android phone), but I'd want as little as possible *extra* going through Google...

[chicagomeg]

I use google voice to text, I love the Chrome extension that lets me text right from the corner of my browser.

HOWEVER - its been my experience that group texts and picture/movie texts that are sent to me simply never get delivered. And when I send a group text on my droid, it gets split into a few separate messages.

So use at your own discretion but I definitely use it to supplement my limited verizon text package.

That's because Google Voice doesn't support MMS (Multimedia), only SMS.

[b4u2]

I have my cell service through TING. If I get a google voice do I want a new number or just use my cell number? I can't use my cell at work but I can access internet on my laptop. Mainly interested in texting  but phone calls would be nice as well. Trying to save as much money as possible.