Yep – that’s right – you can send text messages to phone using Outlook e-mail… or any other email client.
This is one of my favorite, but yet completely simple tips to use. I have a friend who you can only seem to reach by text and a sister that is easier to find that way as well. Unfortunately, I don’t always have the opportunity to pull out my cell phone to text information to one of them, and I’ve found that “texters” don’t seem to check their e-mail as often as I do.
Using this simple message addressing system lets me e-mail and to them it’s texting.
The best of both worlds!
Now, I can already hear you thinking … but I wouldn’t even begin to know how to address the message and my computer isn’t connected to the phone line.
No problem because addressing the message is a breeze and you aren’t actually phoning them, so that connection won’t be necessary.
So, the only issue to address would be how to … well, address it.
The format will look like this:
10 digit phone number@ carrier’s extension
I’m sure you know the phone number; it’s the last part that is stumping you.
Once again – no problem.
You could choose to have them text you at your e-mail address. Obviously the address for the phone will be the “From” of the message.
Or… we could look it up.
I ran a quick internet search using “cell phone carrier email extensions”.
Lots came up – many of them had a list of the biggest carriers, and I found this one at Wikipedia that is quite a bit more detailed.
Once you’ve got the extension, you’re set to go – texting from your computer – no need to locate your phone – and you can contact those hard to reach people without interrupting your day with a volley of beeping, singing or ringing text messages coming into your phone.
You’ve got to love it!
~ April
This is probably one of the most usefull things I will ever use. I LOVE IT! I can text anyone anytime.
Thank you Thank you.
Is there a way to find what carrier the person has?
Vtext is for Verizon, e.g.
This sounds like a fabulous use of Outlook for texting. I don’t like texting, it is too hard on my fingers and too slow. If I can use a keyboard to type it is great. Thanks for the tip. I am going to try it now.