By Olin Coles
Wireless carriers continue to raise the price for sending text messages from your cellular phone, even though Short Message Service (SMS) has been around for twenty years and creates very little load on their infrastructure. Network carriers such as AT&T charge $.20 per text message or $.30 per multimedia message unless you add their optional $20/month unlimited messaging service, which may not fit into everyone’s budget. International texting creates additional charges, which could also be avoided. This guide offers an alternative, and shows you how to send simple text and multimedia picture messages through any email account.
There are three simple steps to this process:
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Discover the recipient’s phone carrier network.
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Create an email address using their phone number and carrier.
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Send the text or picture/video multimedia message!
Step 1: Discover Carrier Network
There are several easy ways to easily discover a contact’s phone carrier network. The easiest method is to simply ask who they receive cellular service from, since most regions have only a few carrier network options. Another method is by searching online, using websites such as phonewhois.com or similar to trace the recipient’s telephone number back to the carrier. The most popular wireless carriers are: Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile.
Step 2: Create E-mail Address
Once you’ve discovered the recipient’s phone carrier network, you’ll need to create a SMS-compatible email address. You create this email address by combining the contact’s ten-digit cell phone number with the carrier network domain. For example, the phone number 123-456-7890 on Verizon’s network would become: [email protected]
The table below gives examples of the SMS domains for several of the most popular cellular network carriers:
| Wireless Network | SMS/SMTP Domain | |
| Alltel | @message.alltel.com | |
| AT&T | @txt.att.net | |
| AT&T (MMS) | @mms.att.net | |
| Boost Mobile | @myboostmobile.com | |
| Cingular Wireless | @cingularme.com | |
| Cricket | @sms.mycricket.com | |
| MetroPCS | @mymetropcs.com | |
| Nextel Wireless | @messaging.nextel.com | |
| PowerTel | @ptel.net | |
| Sprint | @messaging.sprintpcs.com | |
| SunCom | @tms.suncom.com | |
| T-Mobile | @tmomail.net | |
| U.S. Cellular | @email.uscc.net | |
| Verizon Wireless | @vtext.com | |
| Verizon Wireless (MMS) | @vzwpix.com | |
| Virgin Mobile | @vmobl.com | |
| Courtesy Benchmark Reviews |
NOTE: A large comprehensive list of wireless carrier SMS domains is available on the next page.
Step 3: Send SMS via Email
Using the SMS-friendly email address you created in the previous step (our example was [email protected]), you can send 160-character text messages to multiple recipients. This is a great way to avoid costly service fees, or to send a short composed message to several contacts at once. Additionally, this method could be useful for businesses wanting to inform contacts who opt-in of their special promotions.
While sending an email may not cost you anything, we urge good judgment because text messages may not be free for the recipient.
The list below contains a comprehensive collection of wireless carrier SMTP addresses, which can be used to send free text messages to and from any email account:
| Wireless Network | SMS/SMTP Domain |
| ACS Wireless | @paging.acswireless.com |
| Advantage Communications | @advantagepaging.com |
| Airtouch s | @myairmail.com |
| Airtouch s | @alphapage.airtouch.com |
| Airtouch s | @airtouch.net |
| Airtouch s | @airtouchpaging.com |
| AlphNow | [email protected] |
| Alltel | @message.alltel.com |
| Alltel PCS | @message.alltel.com |
| Ameritech Paging (see also American Messaging) | @paging.acswireless.com |
| Ameritech Paging (see also American Messaging) | @pageapi.com |
| American Messaging (SBC/Ameritech) | @page.americanmessaging.net |
| Ameritech Clearpath | @clearpath.acswireless.com |
| Andhra Pradesh Airtel | @airtelap.com |
| Arch s (PageNet) | @archwireless.net |
| Arch s (PageNet) | @epage.arch.com |
| Arch s (PageNet) | @archwireless.net |
| AT&T | @txt.att.net |
| AT&T Free2Go | @mmode.com |
| AT&T PCS | @mobile.att.net |
| AT&T Pocketnet PCS | @dpcs.mobile.att.net |
| Beepwear | @beepwear.net |
| BeeLine GSM | @sms.beemail.ru |
| Bell Atlantic | @message.bam.com |
| Bell Canada | @txt.bellmobility.ca |
| Bell Canada | @bellmobility.ca |
| Bell Mobility (Canada) | @txt.bell.ca |
| Bell Mobility | @txt.bellmobility.ca |
| Bell South (Blackberry) | @bellsouthtips.com |
| Bell South | @sms.bellsouth.com |
| Bell South | @wireless.bellsouth.com |
| Bell South | @blsdcs.net |
| Bell South | @bellsouth.cl |
| Bell South Mobility | @blsdcs.net |
| Blue Sky Frog | @blueskyfrog.com |
| Bluegrass Cellular | @sms.bluecell.com |
| Boost | @myboostmobile.com |
| BPL mobile | @bplmobile.com |
| Carolina West Wireless | @cwwsms.com |
| Carolina Mobile Communications | @cmcpaging.com |
| Cellular One East Coast | @phone.cellone.net |
| Cellular One South West | @swmsg.com |
| Cellular One PCS | @paging.cellone-sf.com |
| Cellular One | @mobile.celloneusa.com |
| Cellular One | @cellularone.txtmsg.com |
| Cellular One | @cellularone.textmsg.com |
| Cellular One | @cell1.textmsg.com |
| Cellular One | @message.cellone-sf.com |
| Cellular One | @sbcemail.com |
| Cellular One West | @mycellone.com |
| Cellular South | @csouth1.com |
| Centennial Wireless | @cwemail.com |
| Central Vermont Communications | @cvcpaging.com |
| CenturyTel | @messaging.centurytel.net |
| Chennai RPG Cellular | @rpgmail.net |
| Chennai Skycell / Airtel | @airtelchennai.com |
| Cincinnati Bell Wireless | @gocbw.com |
| Cingular | [email protected] |
| Cingular | [email protected] |
| Cingular | [email protected] |
| Cingular | [email protected] |
| Cingular | @cingularme.com |
| Cingular Wireless | @mycingular.textmsg.com |
| Cingular Wireless | @mobile.mycingular.com |
| Cingular Wireless | @mobile.mycingular.net |
| Clearnet | @msg.clearnet.com |
| Comcast | @comcastpcs.textmsg.com |
| Communication Specialists | [email protected] |
| Communication Specialist Companies | [email protected] |
| Comviq | @sms.comviq.se |
| Cook Paging | @cookmail.com |
| Corr Wireless Communications | @corrwireless.net |
| Delhi Aritel | @airtelmail.com |
| Delhi Hutch | @delhi.hutch.co.in |
| Digi-Page / Page Kansas | @page.hit.net |
| Dobson Cellular Systems | @mobile.dobson.net |
| Dobson-Alex Wireless / Dobson-Cellular One | @mobile.cellularone.com |
| DT T-Mobile | @t-mobile-sms.de |
| Dutchtone / Orange-NL | @sms.orange.nl |
| Edge Wireless | @sms.edgewireless.com |
| EMT | @sms.emt.ee |
| Escotel | @escotelmobile.com |
| Fido | @fido.ca |
| Gabriel Wireless | @epage.gabrielwireless.com |
| Galaxy Corporation | [email protected] |
| GCS Paging | @web.us |
| German T-Mobile | @@t-mobile-sms.de |
| Goa BPLMobil | @bplmobile.com |
| Golden Telecom | @sms.goldentele.com |
| GrayLink / Porta-Phone | @epage.porta-phone.com |
| GTE | @airmessage.net |
| GTE | @gte.pagegate.net |
| GTE | @messagealert.com |
| Gujarat Celforce | @celforce.com |
| Helio | @messaging.sprintpcs.com |
| Houston Cellular | @text.houstoncellular.net |
| Idea Cellular | @ideacellular.net |
| Illinois Valley Cellular | @ivctext.com |
| Infopage Systems | [email protected] |
| Inland Cellular Telephone | @inlandlink.com |
| The Indiana Paging Co | [email protected] |
| JSM Tele-Page | [email protected] |
| Kerala Escotel | @escotelmobile.com |
| Kolkata Airtel | @airtelkol.com |
| Kyivstar | @smsmail.lmt.lv |
| Lauttamus Communication | @e-page.net |
| LMT | @smsmail.lmt.lv |
| Maharashtra BPL Mobile | @bplmobile.com |
| Maharashtra Idea Cellular | @ideacellular.net |
| Manitoba Telecom Systems | @text.mtsmobility.com |
| MCI Phone | @mci.com |
| MCI | @pagemci.com |
| Meteor | @mymeteor.ie |
| Meteor | @sms.mymeteor.ie |
| Metrocall | @page.metrocall.com |
| Metrocall 2-way | @my2way.com |
| Metro PCS | @mymetropcs.com |
| Metro PCS | @metropcs.sms.us |
| Microcell | @fido.ca |
| Midwest Wireless | @clearlydigital.com |
| MiWorld | @m1.com.sg |
| Mobilecom PA | @page.mobilcom.net |
| Mobilecomm | @mobilecomm.net |
| Mobileone | @m1.com.sg |
| Mobilfone | @page.mobilfone.com |
| Mobility Bermuda | @ml.bm |
| Mobistar Belgium | @mobistar.be |
| Mobitel Tanzania | @sms.co.tz |
| Mobtel Srbija | @mobtel.co.yu |
| Morris Wireless | @beepone.net |
| Motient | @isp.com |
| Movistar | @correo.movistar.net |
| MTS | @text.mtsmobility.com |
| Mumbai BPL Mobile | @bplmobile.com |
| Mumbai Orange | @orangemail.co.in |
| NBTel | @wirefree.informe.ca |
| Netcom | @sms.netcom.no |
| Nextel | @messaging.nextel.com |
| Nextel | @page.nextel.com |
| Nextel | @nextel.com.br |
| Northeast Paging | @.ucom.com |
| NPI Wireless | @npiwireless.com |
| Ntelos | @pcs.ntelos.com |
| O2 | [email protected] |
| O2 | @o2imail.co.uk |
| O2 (M-mail) | @mmail.co.uk |
| Omnipoint | @omnipoint.com |
| Omnipoint | @omnipointpcs.com |
| One Connect Austria | @onemail.at |
| OnlineBeep | @onlinebeep.net |
| Optus Mobile | @optusmobile.com.au |
| Orange | @orange.net |
| Orange Mumbai | @orangemail.co.in |
| Orange – NL / Dutchtone | @sms.orange.nl |
| Oskar | @mujoskar.cz |
| P&T Luxembourg | @sms.luxgsm.lu |
| Pacific Bell | @pacbellpcs.net |
| PageMart | [email protected] |
| PageMart Advanced /2way | @airmessage.net |
| PageMart Canada | @pmcl.net |
| PageNet Canada | @e.pagenet.ca |
| PageOne NorthWest | @page1nw.com |
| PCS One | @pcsone.net |
| Personal Communication | [email protected] (in subject line) |
| Pioneer / Enid Cellular | @msg.pioneerenidcellular.com |
| PlusGSM | @text.plusgsm.pl |
| Pondicherry BPL Mobile | @bplmobile.com |
| Powertel | @voicestream.net |
| President’s Choice | @txt.bell.ca |
| Price Communications | @mobilecell1se.com |
| Primeco | @email.uscc.net |
| Primtel | @sms.primtel.ru |
| ProPage | [email protected] |
| Public Service Cellular | @sms.pscel.com |
| Qualcomm | [email protected] |
| Qwest | @qwestmp.com |
| RAM Page | @ram-page.com |
| River Wireless | @sms.3rivers.net |
| Rogers AT&T Wireless | @pcs.rogers.com |
| Rogers Canada | @pcs.rogers.com |
| Safaricom | @safaricomsms.com |
| Satelindo GSM | @satelindogsm.com |
| Satellink | [email protected] |
| SBC Ameritech Paging | @paging.acswireless.com |
| SCS-900 | @scs-900.ru |
| SFR France | @sfr.fr |
| Skytel s | [email protected] |
| Skytel s | @email.skytel.com |
| Simple Freedom | @text.simplefreedom.net |
| Smart Telecom | @mysmart.mymobile.ph |
| Solo Mobile | @txt.bell.ca |
| Southern LINC | @page.southernlinc.com |
| Southwestern Bell | @email.swbw.com |
| Sprint | @sprintpaging.com |
| Sprint PCS | @messaging.sprintpcs.com |
| ST Paging | [email protected] |
| SunCom | @tms.suncom.com |
| SunCom | @suncom1.com |
| Sunrise Mobile | @mysunrise.ch |
| Sunrise Mobile | @freesurf.ch |
| Surewest Communicaitons | @mobile.surewest.com |
| Swisscom | @bluewin.ch |
| T-Mobile | @tmomail.net |
| T-Mobile | @voicestream.net |
| T-Mobile Austria | @sms.t-mobile.at |
| T-Mobile Germany | @t-d1-sms.de |
| T-Mobile UK | @t-mobile.uk.net |
| Tamil Nadu BPL Mobile | @bplmobile.com |
| Tele2 Latvia | @sms.tele2.lv |
| Telefonica Movistar | @movistar.net |
| Telenor | @mobilpost.no |
| Teletouch | @pageme.teletouch.com |
| Telia Denmark | @gsm1800.telia.dk |
| Telus | @msg.telus.com |
| Ting | @message.ting.com |
| TIM | @timnet.com |
| Tracfone | @txt.att.net |
| Triton | @tms.suncom.com |
| TSR Wireless | @alphame.com |
| TSR Wireless | @beep.com |
| UCOM | @.ucom.com |
| UMC | @sms.umc.com.ua |
| Unicel | @utext.com |
| Uraltel | @sms.uraltel.ru |
| US Cellular | @smtp.uscc.net |
| US Cellular | @email.uscc.net |
| US Cellular | @uscc.textmsg.com |
| US West | @uswestdatamail.com |
| Uttar Pradesh Escotel | @escotelmobile.com |
| Verizon s | @myairmail.com |
| Verizon PCS | @vtext.com |
| Verizon PCS | @myvzw.com |
| Vessotel | @.irkutsk.ru |
| Virgin Mobile | @vmobl.com |
| Virgin Mobile | @vxtras.com |
| Virgin Mobile Canada | @vmobile.ca |
| Vodafone Italy | @sms.vodafone.it |
| Vodafone Japan | @c.vodafone.ne.jp |
| Vodafone Japan | @h.vodafone.ne.jp |
| Vodafone Japan | @t.vodafone.ne.jp |
| Vodafone UK | @vodafone.net |
| VoiceStream / T-Mobile | @voicestream.net |
| WebLink Wiereless | @airmessage.net |
| WebLink Wiereless | @pagemart.net |
| West Central Wireless | @sms.wcc.net |
| Western Wireless | @cellularonewest.com |
| Wyndtell | @wyndtell.com |
| Courtesy Benchmark Reviews |

