Ditch Texting Fees: The Secret to Sending SMS via Email
The Role of SMS Gateways
Sending text messages through email is made possible by carriers’ SMS gateways. These gateways act as specialized email servers designed to bridge the gap between traditional email protocols and the cellular SMS (Short Message Service) system. The gateway receives your carefully formatted email, recognizes the phone number and carrier, and converts the email content into a standard SMS message for delivery to the recipient’s phone.
The Conversion Process
Behind the scenes, several steps occur when you send an SMS via email. First, your email client sends your message to the carrier’s SMS gateway using standard email protocols. The gateway interprets the “To” address, extracting the phone number and the carrier’s domain. It then strips away unnecessary email headers and formatting, leaving just the plain text of your message. Finally, the gateway repackages this text into the SMS format and pushes it over the cellular network to be delivered as a text message on the recipient’s device.
USA: Major Carriers
- AT&T: One of the largest wireless providers in the US, with a long history and extensive nationwide coverage. Their SMS gateway converts emails into standard text messages (SMS) or multimedia messages (MMS) depending on the email address you use.
- Verizon: Another dominant US carrier known for reliability and wide network coverage. Their SMS gateway delivers email as standard text messages, and you use a different gateway address to send picture or video messages.
- T-Mobile: A popular national carrier offering competitive plans and generally good coverage. After their merger with Sprint, they now control a major share of the US wireless market.
- US Cellular: While smaller than the “Big Three”, US Cellular offers regional service in many areas of the United States, with a focus on midwestern and some eastern states.
Canada: Major Carriers
- Rogers: One of Canada’s largest telecommunications companies with a robust nationwide network. They offer a variety of wireless and internet services.
- Bell: Another major Canadian carrier with strong coverage across the country. They provide a wide range of phone, internet, and TV packages.
- Telus: Completing the “Big Three” of Canadian carriers, Telus boasts reliable coverage and a mix of wireless and home services.
Important Extras for Your Blog
- Emphasize MVNOs: Mention that many smaller, prepaid carriers (MVNOs) exist. Explain they use the networks of larger carriers. Highlight this adds complexity as finding their gateway address may take a little more research.
- Resources: Remind readers they can find smaller carrier gateway information through:
- Wikipedia’s lists of carriers
- Carrier lookup websites
- Official government regulator websites (FCC in the US, CRTC in Canada)
Compose Your Email
Now that you know the recipient’s carrier, it’s time to start writing your email! Here’s what you need to do:
The “To” field: The most critical part is getting this right. Enter the following:
- Recipient’s 10-digit phone number (no dashes or spaces)
- @ symbol
- The carrier’s email-to-SMS gateway address (from the list we covered earlier)
Example: If you’re texting someone on Verizon, it might look like this: [email address removed]
Subject Line (Optional): While you can include a subject line, many carriers ignore it when sending as an SMS. Keep it brief if you use one.
Message Body: Type your text message as you usually would in an email. Keep in mind that standard SMS messages have a character limit (usually around 160 characters). Longer messages may be split into multiple texts.
Hit Send!
Once you double-check the address format, hit that send button! Your email will be whisked through the carrier’s gateway and should arrive on the recipient’s phone as a regular text message within seconds or minutes.
Important Note: Delivery times can occasionally be affected by network congestion. If your SMS doesn’t arrive within a few minutes, double-check the gateway address and try again.
List Of Email-To-SMS Addresses
Misc
3 River Wireless
<10-digit-number>@sms.3rivers.net
A
ACS Wireless
<10-digit-number>@paging.acswireless.com
Advantage Communications
<10-digit-number>@advantagepaging.com
Airtouch Pagers
<10-digit-number>@myairmail.com
<10-digit-number>@alphapage.airtouch.com
<10-digit-number>@airtouch.net
<10-digit-number>@airtouchpaging.com
AlphNow
pin-number@alphanow.net
Alltel
<10-digit-number>@alltelmessage.com
Alltel PCS
<10-digit-number>@message.alltel.com
Ameritech Paging
<10-digit-number>@paging.acswireless.com
<10-digit-number>@pageapi.com
Ameritech Clearpath
<10-digit-number>@clearpath.acswireless.com
Andhra Pradesh Airtel
<10-digit-number>@airtelap.com
Arch Pagers (PageNet)
<10-digit-number>@archwireless.net
<10-digit-number>@epage.arch.com
<10-digit-number>@archwireless.net
AT&T
<10-digit-number>@mms.att.net
<10-digit-number>@txt.att.net
AT&T Pocketnet PCS
<10-digit-number>@dpcs.mobile.att.net
B
Beepwear
<10-digit-number>@beepwear.net
BeeLine GSM
<10-digit-number>@sms.beemail.ru
Bell Atlantic
<10-digit-number>@message.bam.com
Bell Canada
<10-digit-number>@txt.bellmobility.ca
<10-digit-number>@bellmobility.ca
Bell Mobility
<10-digit-number>@txt.bellmobility.ca
Bell South (Blackberry)
<10-digit-number>@bellsouthtips.com
Bell South
<10-digit-number>@sms.bellsouth.com
<10-digit-number>@wireless.bellsouth.com
<10-digit-number>@blsdcs.net
<10-digit-number>@bellsouth.cl
Bell South Mobility
<10-digit-number>@blsdcs.net
Blue Sky Frog
<10-digit-number>@blueskyfrog.com
Bluegrass Cellular
<10-digit-number>@sms.bluecell.com
Boost
<10-digit-number>@myboostmobile.com
BPL mobile
<10-digit-number>@bplmobile.com
C
Cellular One East Coast
<10-digit-number>@phone.cellone.net
Cellular One South West
<10-digit-number>@swmsg.com
Cellular One PCS
<10-digit-number>@paging.cellone-sf.com
Cellular One
<10-digit-number>@mobile.celloneusa.com
<10-digit-number>@cellularone.txtmsg.com
<10-digit-number>@cellularone.textmsg.com
<10-digit-number>@cell1.textmsg.com
<10-digit-number>@message.cellone-sf.com
<10-digit-number>@sbcemail.com
Cellular One West
<10-digit-number>@mycellone.com
Cellular South
<10-digit-number>@csouth1.com
Central Vermont Communications
<10-digit-number>@cvcpaging.com
CenturyTel
<10-digit-number>@messaging.centurytel.net
Chennai RPG Cellular
<10-digit-number>@rpgmail.net
Chennai Skycell / Airtel
<10-digit-number>@airtelchennai.com
Cincinnati Bell
<10-digit-number>@mobile.att.net
Cingular Wireless
<10-digit-number>@mycingular.textmsg.com
<10-digit-number>@mobile.mycingular.com
<10-digit-number>@mobile.mycingular.net
Claro Wireless
<10-digit-number>@vtexto
Clearnet
<10-digit-number>@msg.clearnet.com
Comcast
<10-digit-number>@comcastpcs.textmsg.com
Communication Specialists
pin-number@pageme.comspeco.net
Communication Specialist Companies
pin-number@pager.comspeco.com
Comviq
<10-digit-number>@sms.comviq.se
Cook Paging
<10-digit-number>@cookmail.com
Corr Wireless Communications
<10-digit-number>@corrwireless.net
D
Delhi Aritel
<10-digit-number>@airtelmail.com
Delhi Hutch
<10-digit-number>@delhi.hutch.co.in
Digi-Page / Page Kansas
<10-digit-number>@page.hit.net
Dobson Cellular Systems
<10-digit-number>@mobile.dobson.net
Dobson-Alex Wireless / Dobson-Cellular One
<10-digit-number>@mobile.cellularone.com
DT T-Mobile
<10-digit-number>@t-mobile-sms.de
Dutchtone / Orange-NL
<10-digit-number>@sms.orange.nl
E
Edge Wireless
<10-digit-number>@sms.edgewireless.com
EMT
<10-digit-number>@sms.emt.ee
Emtel
<7-digit-number>@emtelworld.net
Escotel
<10-digit-number>@escotelmobile.com
F
Fido
<10-digit-number>@fido.ca
G
Galaxy Corporation
<10-digit-number>.epage@sendabeep.net
GCS Paging
<10-digit-number>@webpager.us
Goa BPLMobil
<10-digit-number>@bplmobile.com
Google Project Fi
<10-digit-number>@msg.fi.google.com
Golden Telecom
<10-digit-number>@sms.goldentele.com
GrayLink / Porta-Phone
<10-digit-number>@epage.porta-phone.com
GTE
<10-digit-number>@airmessage.net
<10-digit-number>@gte.pagegate.net
<10-digit-number>@messagealert.com
Gujarat Celforce
<10-digit-number>@celforce.com
H
Houston Cellular
<10-digit-number>@text.houstoncellular.net
I
Idea Cellular
<10-digit-number>@ideacellular.net
Infopage Systems
pin-number@page.infopagesystems.com
Inland Cellular Telephone
<10-digit-number>@inlandlink.com
J
JSM Tele-Page
pin-number@jsmtel.com
K
Kerala Escotel
<10-digit-number>@escotelmobile.com
Kolkata Airtel
<10-digit-number>@airtelkol.com
Kyivstar
<10-digit-number>@smsmail.lmt.lv
L
Lauttamus Communication
<10-digit-number>@e-page.net
LMT
<10-digit-number>@smsmail.lmt.lv
M
Maharashtra BPL Mobile
<10-digit-number>@bplmobile.com
Maharashtra Idea Cellular
<10-digit-number>@ideacellular.net
Manitoba Telecom Systems
<10-digit-number>@text.mtsmobility.com
MCI Phone
<10-digit-number>@mci.com
MCI
<10-digit-number>@pagemci.com
Meteor
<10-digit-number>@mymeteor.ie
<10-digit-number>@sms.mymeteor.ie
Metrocall
<10-digit-number>@page.metrocall.com
Metrocall 2-way
<10-digit-number>@my2way.com
Metro PCS
<10-digit-number>@mymetropcs.com
<10-digit-number>@metropcs.sms.us
Microcell
<10-digit-number>@fido.ca
Midwest Wireless
<10-digit-number>@clearlydigital.com
MiWorld
<10-digit-number>@m1.com.sg
Mobilecom PA
<10-digit-number>@page.mobilcom.net
Mobilecomm
<10-digit-number>@mobilecomm.net
Mobileone
<10-digit-number>@m1.com.sg
Mobilfone
<10-digit-number>@page.mobilfone.com
Mobility Bermuda
<10-digit-number>@ml.bm
Mobistar Belgium
<10-digit-number>@mobistar.be
Mobitel Tanzania
<10-digit-number>@sms.co.tz
Mobtel Srbija
<10-digit-number>@mobtel.co.yu
Morris Wireless
<10-digit-number>@beepone.net
Motient
<10-digit-number>@isp.com
Movistar
<10-digit-number>@correo.movistar.net
Mumbai BPL Mobile
<10-digit-number>@bplmobile.com
Mumbai Orange
<10-digit-number>@orangemail.co.in
N
NBTel
<10-digit-number>@wirefree.informe.ca
Netcom
<10-digit-number>@sms.netcom.no
Nextel
<10-digit-number>@messaging.nextel.com
<10-digit-number>@page.nextel.com
<10-digit-number>@nextel.com.br
NPI Wireless
<10-digit-number>@npiwireless.com
Ntelos
<10-digit-number>@pcs.ntelos.com
O
O2
<name>@o2.co.uk
O2 (M-mail)
<10-digit-number>@mmail.co.uk
Omnipoint
<10-digit-number>@omnipoint.com
<10-digit-number>@omnipointpcs.com
One Connect Austria
<10-digit-number>@onemail.at
OnlineBeep
<10-digit-number>@onlinebeep.net
Optus Mobile
<10-digit-number>@optusmobile.com.au
Orange
<10-digit-number>@orange.net
Orange Mumbai
<10-digit-number>@orangemail.co.in
Orange – NL / Dutchtone
<10-digit-number>@sms.orange.nl
Oskar
<10-digit-number>@mujoskar.cz
P
P&T Luxembourg
<10-digit-number>@sms.luxgsm.lu
Pacific Bell
<10-digit-number>@pacbellpcs.net
PageMart
pin-number@pagemart.net
PageMart Advanced /2way
<10-digit-number>@airmessage.net
PageMart Canada
<10-digit-number>@pmcl.net
PageNet Canada
<10-digit-number>@pagegate.pagenet.ca
PageOne NorthWest
<10-digit-number>@page1nw.com
PCS One
<10-digit-number>@pcsone.net
Personal Communication
sms@pcom.ru (<10-digit-number> in subject line)
Pioneer / Enid Cellular
<10-digit-number>@msg.pioneerenidcellular.com
PlusGSM
<10-digit-number>@text.plusgsm.pl
Pondicherry BPL Mobile
<10-digit-number>@bplmobile.com
Powertel
<10-digit-number>@voicestream.net
Price Communications
<10-digit-number>@mobilecell1se.com
Primco
<10-digit-number>@primeco@textmsg.com
Primtel
<10-digit-number>@sms.primtel.ru
ProPage
<7-digit-number>@page.propage.net
Public Service Cellular
<10-digit-number>@sms.pscel.com
Q
Qualcomm
<name>@pager.qualcomm.com
Qwest
<10-digit-number>@qwestmp.com
R
RAM Page
<10-digit-number>@ram-page.com
Rogers
<10-digit-number>@pcs.rogers.com
<10-digit-number>@sms.rogers.com
S
Safaricom
<10-digit-number>@safaricomsms.com
Satelindo GSM
<10-digit-number>@satelindogsm.com
Satellink
<10-digit-number>.pageme@satellink.net
SBC Ameritech Paging
<10-digit-number>@paging.acswireless.com
SCS-900
<10-digit-number>@scs-900.ru
SFR France
<10-digit-number>@sfr.fr
Skytel Pagers
pin-number@skytel.com
<10-digit-number>@email.skytel.com
Simple Freedom
<10-digit-number>@text.simplefreedom.net
Smart Telecom
<10-digit-number>@mysmart.mymobile.ph
Southern LINC
<10-digit-number>@page.southernlinc.com
Southwestern Bell
<10-digit-number>@email.swbw.com
Sprint
<10-digit-number>@sprintpaging.com
Sprint PCS
<10-digit-number>@messaging.sprintpcs.com
ST Paging
pin-number@page.stpaging.com
SunCom
<10-digit-number>@tms.suncom.com
<10-digit-number>@suncom1.com
Sunrise Mobile
<10-digit-number>@mysunrise.ch
<10-digit-number>@freesurf.ch
Surewest Communications
<10-digit-number>@mobile.surewest.com
Swisscom
<10-digit-number>@bluewin.ch
T
The Indiana Paging Co
<4-last-digits>@pager.tdspager.com
T-Mobile
<10-digit-number>@tmomail.net
<10-digit-number>@voicestream.net
T-Mobile Austria
<10-digit-number>@sms.t-mobile.at
T-Mobile Germany
<10-digit-number>@t-d1-sms.de
T-Mobile UK
<10-digit-number>@t-mobile.uk.net
Tamil Nadu BPL Mobile
<10-digit-number>@bplmobile.com
Tele2 Latvia
<10-digit-number>@sms.tele2.lv
Telefonica Movistar
<10-digit-number>@movistar.net
Telenor
<10-digit-number>@mobilpost.no
Teletouch
<10-digit-number>@pageme.teletouch.com
Telia Denmark
<10-digit-number>@gsm1800.telia.dk
Telus
<10-digit-number>@msg.telus.com
TIM
<10-digit-number>@timnet.com
Triton
<10-digit-number>@tms.suncom.com
TSR Wireless
<10-digit-number>@alphame.com
<10-digit-number>@beep.com
U
UMC
<10-digit-number>@sms.umc.com.ua
Unicel
<10-digit-number>@utext.com
Uraltel
<10-digit-number>@sms.uraltel.ru
US Cellular
<10-digit-number>@email.uscc.net
US Cellular
<10-digit-number>@uscc.textmsg.com
US West
<10-digit-number>@uswestdatamail.com
Uttar Pradesh Escotel
<10-digit-number>@escotelmobile.com
V
Verizon Pagers
<10-digit-number>@myairmail.com
Verizon PCS
<10-digit-number>@vtext.com
<10-digit-number>@myvzw.com
Vessotel
<10-digit-number>@pager.irkutsk.ru
Virgin Mobile
<10-digit-number>@vmobl.com
<10-digit-number>@vxtras.com
Vodafone Italy
<10-digit-number>@sms.vodafone.it
Vodafone Japan
<10-digit-number>@c.vodafone.ne.jp
<10-digit-number>@h.vodafone.ne.jp
<10-digit-number>@t.vodafone.ne.jp
Vodafone Spain
<10-digit-number>@vodafone.es
VoiceStream / T-Mobile
<10-digit-number>@voicestream.net
W
WebLink Wiereless
<10-digit-number>@airmessage.net
<10-digit-number>@pagemart.net
West Central Wireless
<10-digit-number>@sms.wcc.net
Western Wireless
<10-digit-number>@cellularonewest.com
Wyndtell
<10-digit-number>@wyndtell.com