Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Text Messaging through existing email

[Robert Malesko]

Brian it looks like you received an answer that spoke to instant messaging (IM) instead of text messaging (the SMS protocol.) I wanted to clear this up because it's a great tool, and no additional software is required. 

You can send a text message to a cell phone using email, period. It is simply a matter of getting someone's cell phone number, and formatting the "To:" address properly. The format depends on their cell phone carrier; here's the format for the six most common US cell carriers:

T-Mobile:phonenumber at tmomail.net 
Virgin Mobile:phonenumber at vmobl.com 
Cingular:phonenumber at cingularme.com 
Sprint:phonenumber at messaging.sprintpcs.com
Verizon: phonenumber at vtext.com
Nextel: phonenumber at messaging.nextel.com 

where phonenumber = your 10 digit phone number

(above copied from http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/939/sms_email_cingular_nextel_sprint_tmobile_verizon_virgin)

The only obstacle I've run into is that text messages have a relatively small character limit of 160 characters, and the message sent includes whatever is in the subject line, so be concise. It's easy enough to test on your own cell phone.


On Apr 11, 2008, at 8:07 AM, Brian Lind wrote:
> Does anyone do reference text messaging through your existing email
> system?  We're looking to add it to our services and I was wondering
> what kind of software and/or service you're using.  We're currently
> using Novell GroupWise 6.5 for our email.  Any recommendations/horror
> stories?
>
> Thanks,
>
>
> Brian J. Lind
> Reference Librarian
> Rochester Public Library
> 101 Second St. SE
> Rochester, MN 55904


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