The way we talk to each other keeps changing. Once, we relied on letters, telephones and fax machines however now we prefer speedier and sometimes less intrusive types of communication like email or instant messenger. Even more popular, however, and a phenomenon of communication experienced worldwide, is sending SMS text messages to each other via cellphones (also referred to as mobile phones or cellular phones).

So, what is SMS?

Short Message Service (SMS) is the general name for the technology which enables visitors to send and receive texts via cellphones (or mobile phones).

Envio SMS masivos (popular in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa plus some parts of North America) state that: “Messages can be up to 160 characters of text long”. CDMA networks allow greater message size and operate in North & South America, Asia (China, India, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, etc).

(In actual fact, modern cellphones utilizing the GSM standard send messages bigger than 160 characters, but they achieve this by sending multiple messages of 160 characters. Which means that when you send a message of 330 characters in length, you have actually sent two messages of 160 characters and something message of 10 characters.)

SMS messages can include words, numbers or an alphanumeric combination; binary format is even supported.

Technically speaking, SMS is really a store and forward service. Therefore messages are not sent directly from sender to recipient, but always via an SMS center instead. You have a limited time to download or receive your messages (this happens automatically when you switch your cellphone on), otherwise the messages are taken off the SMS center concerned.

Message delivery (or failure) could be confirmed, too.

Note: it is a limited definition of sms. A fuller explanation are available at

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texting

HOW WILL YOU Send SMS Text Messages For Free?

Sending SMS is an excellent, quick way to talk to family and friends. Unlike sending email, though, sending SMS messages is often not free. In britain, for instance, messages often cost �0.10 per message. And with people sending tens or a huge selection of messages every day, costs can mount up.

So cellular phone companies design payment plans that enable you to send a certain amount of text messages free monthly. Or, if you pay enough of a monthly fee (or top-up your pay-as-you-go phone often enough) you may be permitted to send an unlimited number of sms messages for free.

Still, this can be a costly solution to send ‘free sms’.

A much better way is by using so-called ‘free sms sites’.

Yes, there are several, many websites that allow you to send free SMS texts online. Simply type in your message at this type of website, then your cellphone number you wish to send a text to, and click on the send button. Sometimes the messages are delivered immediately, or within the area of an hour roughly. Also, quite often there is no need to register to utilize the free sms service.

Example free sms sites include sms.ac, cbfsms.com and Fonetastic, and you can now find free sms on myspace.com too.

Like anything else online, some free SMS sites work better than others. For example:

Some open for business one week and are closed another, struggling to recover their costs of delivering a large number of sms text messages. (There is always a cost associated with sending sms text messages online for the sms site concerned.)

Some free sms sites work in a single country but not another.

And, most worryingly, some free SMS sites are simply just not free — either it costs the person to send the sms messages, or it costs you to definitely receive them.

Basically, lots of free sms text messaging sites begin free, then either go wrong or start to charge.

That’s why a trip to a free of charge SMS directory, where sites are reviewed or commented on, is recommended. For example, there are a lot more than 150 free text messaging sites currently listed at TextMeFree.com.

Is Sending Free SMS Really Safe?

Yes. Usually.

It must be safe to send free text messages using a text messaging site, but many people have already been caught out by services that sneakily get you to first join a subscription service, that often costs several dollars per week. It can be very difficult to unsubscribe from such services, too.

Generally speaking free SMS sites benefit from the advertising on the websites or in the actual texts being sent; these sites don’t normally abuse their relationship with individuals doing the SMS texting. It is also generally true that text messages get sent quickly and people do not receive so-called SMS spam on the cellphone or cellular phone afterwards.

Again, a good free SMS directory provides enough information about a free of charge sms service or site for you to be able to choose for yourself.

Sending SMS text messages to your family and friends is quick, easy and fun. But it doesn’t have to set you back anything, if you find and use a free SMS text messaging site that lets you send text messages to the united states where they live. Happy texting.