[ALUmnus]

Read this in the latest Popular Mechanics. For those of you who don't have an unlimited texting plan, or even if you do, you could get rid of it and save some dough. Although, it takes some cooperation with others as far as receiving them for free.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/technol ... 18204.html

All major mobile-phone carriers have e-mail addresses that feed into your SMS inbox (see our diagram for specific addresses). If you have a smartphone and an all-you-can-eat data plan, you can use your phone’s e-mail client to send as many texts as you want for no additional cost. Of course, this method has its limitations: In order to determine what address to send your message to, you first need to know what cellular provider your friends have. I suggest asking your most-texted contacts who their providers are. With that information, you can program the proper e-mail address next to their names in your phone’s address book.

Easier yet: Send your text message over AOL Instant Messenger (versions of which exist for most mobile phones). Instead of sending your message to a screen name, send it to “+1” followed by the area code and phone number. So if your friend’s number is 212-555-5555, sending an IM to “+12125555555” will ensure it pops up on his cellphone screen. If your phone has Web access, you can also send free texts through sites such as txtdrop.com.

There's more info in the article.

[flamesbball84]

that AIM thing has been around for a long time. if I'm at home on the computer (and I text the most when at home), I just do it over AIM.

[El Scorcho]

You can also send texts for free via Google Talk and they use consistent numbers unlike AOL.

[phoenix]

I don't understand people having an "all you can eat" data plan but not unlimited texting.