Is there a way to send text messages without a TM plan?

[jdollaz]

Google voice is the only service (at this moment) you can use that will text actual phone numbers, but I would suggest applying ASAP for a Google Voice because it's beta and takes a while till they give you an account.

[FormerHPB]

Google Voice does if you have an account with them. But it's not as good as normal text messaging, there's no "push" features so your inbox has to be refreshed frequently.

If you get the google voice app, you get the text messages VERY quick, just like a normal text message. Give everyone your google voice number and with the google voice app, all your outgoing calls go through google voice and same for incoming. You can also set it up so it pushes the calls to your home phone. It's pretty slick. You can set it up so that when someone calls your google voice number, your droid, home phone, and work phone will ring at the same time.

[Nolano]

Google Voice does if you have an account with them. But it's not as good as normal text messaging, there's no "push" features so your inbox has to be refreshed frequently.

If you get the google voice app, you get the text messages VERY quick, just like a normal text message. Give everyone your google voice number and with the google voice app, all your outgoing calls go through google voice and same for incoming. You can also set it up so it pushes the calls to your home phone. It's pretty slick. You can set it up so that when someone calls your google voice number, your droid, home phone, and work phone will ring at the same time.

Not for me, I was going to try using google voice as my primary, but after sending myself a text and not getting it for at least 5-10 minutes, I changed my mind.

[KdawgBRTNpod]

how about this:
1.everyone in the world gets a smartphone
2. developers make all facebook apps iphone equivalent so facebook chat can be used to it's full potential on mobile devices.
3. then SMS txing and it's monthly charges wont be necessary because everyone would be on facebook chat 24/7

to bad facebook chat took away the popularity of AOL users signing into AIM. (at least with everyone I know) cause you can chat with people doing AIM over the data network. (just download the AIM app) If they have mobile forwarding set up on their aim you can send them an IM and it will go to their phone. it wont be your phone number they see but they will see your aim. i do it all the time but it's kinda annoying. if you cant change the world do what MNTNBKR said and use google voice but use with caution ive heard that people use it without knowing about it and get unwanted charges on their bill. (idk it's what i've heard)