Sending Text Messages via Email: List of SMS Addresses

For some reason, folks still think prepaid cell phones don’t have the same capabilities as monthly contract cell phones. That’s not quite true. Prepaid cell phones, just like contract phones, can receive text messages from email addresses.

How to Send a Text via Email

To send a text message to a pre paid cell phone via email is the same as sending one to a contract phone. There are two very important things that are required:

1. The 10 digit cell phone number
2. The Cell phone service provider

Each cell phone service provider has an SMS address (which usually takes on the form of @name.com) which allows computer folks to send text messages to cell phone folks. The 10 digits appearing before the @name.com is the recipient’s cell phone number, and the @name.com is the cell phone provider’s messaging address. You’re on your own when it comes to the cell phone number, but I can help you with the cell phone service provider’s SMS address.

Listed below are the @name.coms for some of the most popular cell phone providers.

Emailing the Text Message

Now that we have all of the necessary info, it’s time to send the text. So, if I were to send a text message to my friend on the Nextel network, I would open my email program, insert the 10 digit phone number followed by the SMS address in the “To” line. I would then send a short message (remember it’s SMS which stands for short message service) to my friend.

For brevity sake, I usually send the entire message in the “Subject” line, keeping in mind that it’s a text message and not a regular email. Once I start typing in the body of the email program, I know for sure that my message will be too long for the cell phone to accept. The maximum character length of a text message usually falls somewhere around 160 characters.

After I finish my “Subject” text message, I send it. Simple as pie.

Originally published 23 October 2009
Last Modified: 7 June 2021

Did you know?: If you meet the Lifeline and/or Affordable Connectivity Program criteria, you qualify to receive a free device (smartphone or tablet) along with discounted or free wireless service (plans vary by state).

About the Author: LaForey is a person who was fed up with contract phone plans and opted for something more practical.