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

[scroticus]

Sorry if this is a redundant post, but I searched and couldn't find anything about this.

I want to get a droid but I'm trying to do it the least expensive way possible. I was thinking about getting the fewest minutes and doing all my calls through the skype app instead.

Is there an app that allows you to send text messages without paying for an addititional messaging plan from your provider, i.e. verizon?

[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.

[hookbill]

You don't have to have a text plan with Verizon. However if you text frequently it's to your benefit to have one, because you will get charged per text message. I want to say it's 5 cents but I'm not certain.

[Roc_Droid]

I'm pretty sure you are required to get a data plan with the Droid as it is a smartphone.

But you can also send text messages through email if you know the other person's carrier.

[Nolano]

You don't have to have a text plan with Verizon. However if you text frequently it's to your benefit to have one, because you will get charged per text message. I want to say it's 5 cents but I'm not certain.

It's more like .20-.25

I'm pretty sure you are required to get a data plan with the Droid as it is a smartphone.

But you can also send text messages through email if you know the other person's carrier.

Yes, you are, but you aren't required to get a texting plan.

[scroticus]

I know that the data plan is required so I'm hoping that there will be a way to avoid the additional fee of paying for a text plan with some sharp application. are the handcent and other sms apps just skins for your normal sms messager or do they actually send and recieve the texts outside the typical network? also, are sent messages linked to your carrier (verizon, tmobile, att) phone number or some other phone number? I don't want to confuse my friends with a bunch of new numbers.

[mrdroid]

Can't you just send an email to the person you want to txt?
If you have a data plan but no txt plan you can just save an extra email field in the contact with 1112223333@vtxt.com

[B1-66er]

AOL IM or yahoo IM should work, at least I know you can send messages to cell phones from those on a PC

[MNTNBKR]

Google voice allows you to send txt messages via the data connection (as opposed to cell connection). This makes it unnecessary to pay for a text plan. However, I'm 99% sure that your friends will see your GV number instead of your normal cell number. You could just switch everything over the the GV number though, then it wouldn't be a problem.

As far as text messages not being pushed from GV, there is a simple workaround. You simply have your TXT / SMS messages forwarded to your email (which is pushed) so you get notified instantly.

[hookbill]

Data and text are two different things. Yes, you have to have a data plan but that does not include texting unless of course you use Google Voice.