Free sms or texts would be useful to anyone.
I use a pay as you go mobile/cell phone so free texts would be a definite plus. So how can I achieve this?
Well there are many websites offering this but be careful. One word – SPAM. There’s one reason that companies make such a service free and that is to get your cell number. The moment you use the service, they have your number and your recipients number.
Don’t let this put you off. Some companies provide free sms without spamming but, they will charge the recipient to read the message. To me this is just as bad.
The nearest half descent service I have come across is VoipCheap. Early indications are that sms is completely free and limitless. Well at first it appears that way but when you start to make use of VoipCheap you realise the drawbacks.
Day one – fantastic, I can send free sms, NOT fantastic, I need to register my sending cell number. Fantastic, it will use my registered username if I choose not to register my cell number, NOT fantastic, there’s no way a recipient can respond if you don’t register your cell number.
Day two – NO MORE FREE SMS!
The BIG, NOT so fantastic side to all this – it costs one standard text fee (no great problem) however, you have to credit your account with 10 EUROS minimum (what! hang on this is supposed to be free!) and that’s not the end of it. Free sms and calls (did i forget to mention calls as well?, lets be up front about the service) only lasts for 1 month from the first payment date, after which you are charged at the standard rate per message or call, unless you top up your account each month by at least 10 EUROS.
I suppose you can make best use of the limited free time with VoipCheap by indicating that no replys are possible or replys should go to a specific number then each day you can register a new account but lets face it, that is a real pain in the you know what. The only people who will make use of this are spammers or other less scrupulous marketers.
I wouldn’t stop anyone from trying VoipCheap but beware of what they mean by free.