New Free Texts article discussion

brightonman123

do check the terms BEFORE you send a 'free' text- some charge the person receiving it quite a bit!

ioscorpio

pchelpman

get them both on 3 payg phones and top up £5 every 3 months and they will have free 3 to 3 calls and free msn or skype for their messages.

http://www.three.co.uk/Pay_As_You_Go/SIM_Only/About_free_SIM

ricvic29

has anyone found a good way of sending free or cheap international text,or even better is there anyway to use your text bundle to text internationally.would be grateful for any advice.
please help.regards richard:beer:

ajgunn

LGTilley wrote: »

Yes, I just repeated your experience. The site is a complete con. After two SMSs I kept getting the "system overloaded" message. When you read their faq they tell you that this is "not a technical fault." What it is, is a complete, huge and whopping "misrepresentation of the truth." I hope this comment gets read and the site gets re-examined by the author - CBFMS should be removed from as a recommendation from the main article.

I agree, repeat of your experience, a couple of texts went through and then (i presume they logged my IP address) system overload / technical fault / come back later messages - complete rubbish, i wouldn't have persevered if MSE had not listed them as useful. CBFSMS should be removed. They also say that to reply to the text only costs the standard rate from the recipients provider yet MSE says they charge 20p ? It's all a bit dodgy and a waste of time I think.

stphnstevey

Do you have to pay a data usage charge even if you connect to your home wi-fi?

MacTryingToSortItOut

As it would seem many people are searchiing for, I am after cheap/free international txts.

I currently have a PAYG bundle that has inclusive mins/texts/data and, as with my mins when calling international, I was hoping I could find a service that uses a UK based txt number to then forward my txt internationally and therefore simply come out of my txt allowance.

I currently use a service provided by just-dial-uk that, after setting up a free account and adding credit (all done with a simple txt msg), allows me to use my inc call allowance to call a UK based number, enter an international number, and simply chat to my daughter on either her land line OR mobile for the equivalent of just 2p per min anytime night or day...excellent service and easy to use.

Sadly, they, nor anyone else I can find, does a similar service for texting

I have a Nokia that is prob about 3 years old now, but runs java apps such as GMail etc no prob, however its not a 'smart' phone you can leave apps running 'in the background'. Its either on or off and if on you cant then 'swap' to view/use other features of your phone...like standard txt, phonebook, camera etc

So, if anyone has any solutions (or even ideas) please reply ... between my wife, other daughter and me its costing a small fortune at a min of 16p per text

Thanks in advance

peterbaker

Mac, I strongly suggest FishText is worth a go. It is a simple java application and whilst you sometimes have to kickstart it* when it has been left running in the background, if you can't have it running in the background anyway then I think you might be pleasantly surprised how fast you can open it up and use it. The main problem is replying on your normal SMS by mistake. I suggest that unless your provider charges a "per connection" minimum data charge, then you might be pleasantly surprised by FishText at as little as 1.3p per text plus barely 1p's worth of data on my £15pm SIM only contract with 3 mobile for example. It is reliable enough for me to have dared use it whilst roaming in Europe too.

*Simply requesting a credit balance is usually enough to wake it up! The credit balance is shown to tenths of a penny to give you an idea of how cheap it is

MacTryingToSortItOut

I will give it a go. Just wasn't sure based on a few comments within this post, but the 'wake it up' idea sounds like it may sort those issues.

Obviously my other concern was not being able to leave it open and use other apps etc, but if it opens quickly then I guess its something I can live with.

Thanks again :j

Former_MSE_Becca

Hi guys, I'm just updating the Free Texts guide and am looking for anyone that's saved big using any of the methods above, or any other ways? Have you saved £££ on your mobile bill texting friends abroad using FishText? Or have you experienced any problems with the methods listed in the article? Let me know!

Becca - new tech writer at MSE!

Gadget_Girl_4

Becca, I swear by WhatsApp. It's an instant messaging application that works across Apple iPhones, BlackBerry, Google Android and Nokia. It lets you send text messages, pictures and videos to others WhatsApp users but sends the message via your data connection or Wi-Fi rather than your operator. Although I can send SMS within my unlimited Orange bundle, MMS are extra and at 40p a pop, I found my bill was mounting up quickly. Furthemore, a friend just moved to the US so I can message her without it costing me I've got an Android phone and the app is free to download, although I think its costs 59p for iPhones.