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A cheap way to text message Canada to UK?

I want to text someone abroad. I'm on Bell Canada she's on Virgin UK. Through the phone companies this proves to be very expensive. I have a data plan, she has 3,000 monthly texts. Is there a cheap or free way to accomplish this?

google voice

gwapako said:
Well you can communicate through the internet. Chatting or Skype voice call can be really much much cheaper than texting.
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Hm, we need to be able to text
sasha101 said:
google voice
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Niether of us are in the US so that wont work.

for sure the cheapest method will be to install skype / msn messenger or palringo to both your devices. then you will only be charged your data at local rate for your messages (messages use very little data so costs should be low)
as for actual text messge function you will be best to find a contract that includes alot of international texts in the allowance

I dunno if this app is available for HTC phones..but I downloaded this app on my nokia E71...called Global AQ lite, it gives 7 free credits daily, and you can send text messages to any country. Its really neat and it works! The replies are sent back to your phone, no charge =)

10pText.co.uk
O might have the solution for you.
There's a service in the UK called 10ptext.co.uk. It is quite a clever service, you purchase credits at 10p/text and then you used your data connection to send SMS text to international destinations. You can use it from any country, I have been around the world with it.

No service Verizon Plan

I'm going to college next year, and I'll be stuck paying my own phone bill for the first time, and I'm wondering if it's even an option to have no mobile service. A plan with no calling or texting, just data.
If I could only pay $30 per month for my phone bill, that would be huge, considering minutes and texting. I could buy minutes from Skype or Google voice and make calls with those applications, and text through AIM or another free texting app.

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/splash/messagingplans.jsp
That's probably what you're looking for but not sure if it's available for 4G devices and it says documentation required for smartphones.

I bought an off-contract Incredible and have it as a house phone using Google Voice and GrooVe IP. Works perfectly, too.
No plan required, just a wifi connection.

That could work, but is it required to either get texting or minutes? I really just want to be $30 for the unlimited data, and text through a texting app or AIM. I could easily make calls through skype or google voice.
The off-contract phone could work too, especially with a phone like the tbolt, but isn't a bit inconvenient to not be able to call or text while you're out? Also, does anyone know what a typical internet speed is for a college dorm?

U can also get the 50 minute loyalty plan for $20 + $30 data.
Verizon doesn't offer data only on phones. If u bought a galaxy tablet, then u could have data only.
I'd just use wifi if I was on campus, I'm sure its faster than 3g.
Sent from my Thunderbolt using XDA App

booda3000 said:
U can also get the 50 minute loyalty plan for $20 + $30 data.
Verizon doesn't offer data only on phones. If u bought a galaxy tablet, then u could have data only
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Check out the link in post 2, unlimited data and messages and no voice minutes

The link in post 2 says that documentation is required though... think that means you need proof that you are deaf or hard of hearing... so unless you have this they probably won't even give you that..

necosino said:
I bought an off-contract Incredible and have it as a house phone using Google Voice and GrooVe IP. Works perfectly, too.
No plan required, just a wifi connection.
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How do you do this as when you try to use google voice it wants the number associated with the phone right?

don't have a clue about the plan, I've never heard of such being offered though. Speeds will depend on what college you're at. Most major universities have at least a T1 line in my experience. YMMV

your best bet is to just visit your local verizon store and see if you get a tech who is nice enough to activate the service listed in post #2

I had the unlimited text/data activated over the phone with the corporate #. 800-922-0204. They didn't ask questions.
i like the $50 loyalty plan better. Its cheaper, u get 50 emergency minutes a month and u can text unlimited with google voice.
Sent from my ThunderBolt using XDA App

..

Poll: What is your texting plan/service?

I want to switch to AT&T for the One X soon and am looking for ways to reduce my bill. I don't want to pay $20/mo for texting so using Google Voice is a good idea for that. I initially wanted to port my number to GV so that I wouldn't have to give people a new number, but after some testing I feel like the voice lag in calls through GV is a little too significant to use it for all my calls, so now I'm considering porting my number to AT&T like normal and using my separate GV number for texts.
I'd like to know what you guys do and how it works out for you.
Thanks.

Just keep in mind that GV texting doesn't support short codes, nor MMS (although Google said it is coming).

I'd switch to google voice full time if it had two features that it's currently missing. 1. Obviously mms. 2. Threaded group SMS (which I found out the One X doesnt support either)! I really miss group SMS coming from the iPhone as that's how I communicated with a bunch of my friends and colleagues.

Telling people to just email me is definitely worth the $20 savings...
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium

Google plus messenger?

Cryosx said:
Google plus messenger?
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Not even sure what this means.

I am in the same boat and I had tried to use Google Voice. Does not work simply because the lack of a dedicated SMS agent.

I use text plus. Didn't want to pay 20 dollars
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium

NextNexus said:
Not even sure what this means.
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Google+ messenger. The stand alone messaging client for Google+.
I've been debating getting a new number through Google Voice and switching to that. Cutting the unlimited texting from my plan would sure be nice. I don't make more than 10-20 minutes in calls most months, so the latency issue is not major for me. I suspect it's related to the inherent latency on the 3G/HSPA network. I think this is one of the areas where LTE is supposed to be a major improvement over HSPA+. Has anybody tried GV over 3G and wifi/LTE. If so, was it any better?

lilhyper said:
I am in the same boat and I had tried to use Google Voice. Does not work simply because the lack of a dedicated SMS agent.
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Can you explain what you mean by an "SMS agent"?

mesasone said:
Google+ messenger. The stand alone messaging client for Google+.
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Yea but isn't that like using Facebook messenger or whatsapp? It's not an SMS replacement unless everyone you text actually has it installed.

Pretty much. I'm not really sure how that works out as a replacement for a texting brand. Maybe they will elaborate.

I use Google Voice and save my money, not work the 20 bucks for MMS and short code. I fill in the blanks of those with twitter/facebook etc etc.

I have unlimited via a family unlimited plan.
EDIT: Can you use GV without a SIM? Like I have an account set up but I can't send SMS or Make calls on the One X at all. Am I doing something wrong or does it just not work that way?

I chose the unlimited text because that gives you unlimited mobile to mobile calls, any carrier.. That allowed me to drop down from unlimited minutes to 450 minutes with rollover. I'll never talk 450 minutes to a landline during peak i dont think. I dont know anybody with a landline, all mobile. That dropped the Minutes from $69 to $39. I', going to give it a try...We'll see

nugzo said:
I chose the unlimited text because that gives you unlimited mobile to mobile calls, any carrier.. That allowed me to drop down from unlimited minutes to 450 minutes with rollover. I'll never talk 450 minutes to a landline during peak i dont think. I dont know anybody with a landline, all mobile. That dropped the Minutes from $69 to $39. I', going to give it a try...We'll see
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Yeah, I'm used to having unlimited mobile to mobile on Sprint, but I think I can get by without it and still only 450 minutes. A lot of calls happen on nights and weekends, and then I can take advantage of the rollover (not sure how long those minutes last before expiring).
voluptuary said:
I have unlimited via a family unlimited plan.
EDIT: Can you use GV without a SIM? Like I have an account set up but I can't send SMS or Make calls on the One X at all. Am I doing something wrong or does it just not work that way?
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You should be able to SMS through GV by just being on WiFi I think, but you won't be able to make calls without the SIM since it goes over the cell network and uses minutes like normal. However, if you use something like GrooVe IP, you should be able to make calls with just WiFi.

Unlimited text family plan for $20 FTW!

[Q] Verizon Galaxy Tab 7.7 incoming phone calls?

Hi,
Using Google Voice and Groove IP, I am able to place ourgoing calls with no problem.
Is there a way or a setting that I don't see that would allow incoming phone calls as well. When I dial the google # from a standard cell phone, it goes right to VM.
Any help would be most appreciated.

Access Google voice with a browser. login and under settings add Google chat as another forwarding line. Then edit your forwarded mobile phone number and under advanced settings have Google voice ring your other lines if it can't reach your mobile phone. Now when someone calls your mobile number and u don't pick up, it will ring your tablet.

Should have gotten an international voice+3g tab, much better than going through all these steps. just saying.....
Sent from my GT-P6800 using xda premium

I realize most everyone on here tries to find a work around from having to pay for anything.. but in this case why not just make it easy on yourself and use Skype? I have been paying VZW 100.00 per month, 1200.00 per year! for my smart phone for about 6yrs but recently suspended it in favor of trying something different.
I got the idea when I had my Xoom and and it worked so well that I sold that and recently purchased the much lighter, pocketable, portable Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7
I still pay VZW 30.00 for a 2GB data plan per month but Id have to pay that with my smart phone anyway.. I then use (free) google voice for all my text and pay a subscription to Skype of 2.99per month or 30.00 for the whole year for unlimited calls.. I also purchased a number from them which is another 30.00 per year so people can call me. So it comes out to under 70.00 for the whole year! rather than 1200.00
I know that may not work for everyone.. it's not ideal having to use two different numbers and if your data strength is so so it may not work so well.. I also know there are probably many many other ways to do this.. but for me I don't think 70.00 per year is a lot to pay plus the convenience of not having to set much up totally works for me..

@bioshock22, you can achieve what you just described using what OP is using... And you don't pay the $70/yr. GrooveIP/Google voice gives you a free phone number of your choice and free unlimited incoming / outgoing calls to any US/Canadian number. OP has a single phone number for texting and calls all for free. He just pays verizon for the data plan.
@aximtreo, I don't have a forwarding number enabled for Google voice. I just have Google chat checked for forwarding so I can receive calls on the tablet.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Xparent ICS Blue Tapatalk 2

As I said in my post I am sure there are many many ways to do this but for me it is all about convenience.. I have no desire to spend a whole day looking through hundreds of these forum posts reading what app this guy recommends only to have another guy say this one is better or this one is better or this one is better.. THEN have to figure out how to forward from google voice, google talk, google this, google that etc. etc.
Like Denzel say's in the movie Philadelphia.. "Explain it to me like I'm a four-year-old"
Rarely does anyone ever do that on here.. everyone assumes you already have an idea what to do so if you don't you better free up a whole day because you'll be spending that time digging through post, after post, after post..

interesting thread. been thinking about this for weeks.
what I wonder is whether anyone is making use of their bluetooth headsets? can calls from either skype or gvoice/grooveip be initiated and answered this way? if yes, I'm almost sure to give up my cellphone entirely! otherwise, I don't think I'd like holding up a 7.7 inch tab up to my noggin like I would my smartphone.

ZenNook said:
interesting thread. been thinking about this for weeks.
what I wonder is whether anyone is making use of their bluetooth headsets? can calls from either skype or gvoice/grooveip be initiated and answered this way? if yes, I'm almost sure to give up my cellphone entirely! otherwise, I don't think I'd like holding up a 7.7 inch tab up to my noggin like I would my smartphone.
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I'm using an international version though, but skype works through bluetooth dunno if you can initiate it though.

[Q] Need Advice: Personal or Company Phone?

I need some advice from the XDA Community. I purchased a Nexus 4 the day it was released and have it on Solavei ($49/mnth with pretty much unlimited everything). My company just purchased me an iPhone 5 on Verizon, however, I'm limited to a shared pool of minutes, 500 text messages, and 2 GB data. I'm not sure what the company policy on MMS is, but I heard they don't like it when lots of MMS's are sent/received.
I would love to move to just one phone (the company phone), but the limitations are killing me. I was previous with Spring for 10 years, and I sent an average of 4,000 text messages per month, used only about 500 minutes per month, and used less than 1 GB data per month. So, it's the text messages that are holding me back.
I explored looking at using Google Voice with the Verizon (work) phone, but a big issue is the MMS. I have some MMS happy friends sharing some great stuff, so I don't want to miss out. However, with GV, we all know MMS disappears into the Never Never.
Lots of my friends do have iPhones, so iMessage won't count against texts, but my wife texts me the most - she is on Android on Verizon, so that would kill the 500 message limit.
The last thing I want to do is carry around two phones, so if I could migrate all to the iPhone that would be ideal.
How would you handle this?

My best advice would be to have the wife get some kind of app that's compatible with something you can have on iOS.
I'm not sure what messengers iOS has - but things like IM+ or maybe Whatsapp depending on what you have available.