i used to send sms messages from my pc/via yahoo, using the keyboard rather than the fiddly pad on my mobile, essentially sending sms messages from a pc to a mobile and receiving replies same way. I notice yahoo are discontinuing this service. Anyone know of anything similar anywhere else.

We use a VOIP service ..... www.voipdiscount.com ... and their facilities include the ability to send SMS messages ... cost per message is €0.05 ... about 3.5p.

Not only that it is possible to register your mobile phone number with them and then the recipient of your SMS sent via voipdiscount thinks that the SMS message has actually been generated on your mobile phone.

You can do it with AOL 6p a message

I've always used www.mobisms.com.
Very efficient. Sends the message as though from your mobiel number and just appends "mobisms.com" at the end of the message.

You buy credits up front and one credit is good for one 160 character sms. You can span up to 3x160 char sms per message (which is standard).

The credits are 0.028 Euros each, so if you keep your messages short (less than 160 chars) then one sms to Thailand would cost you less than 2p!

I think any service will charge you in multiples of 160 chars anyway as they have to send additional segments of messages.

The other advantage is that you can also download a small application to your mobile which, providing you have WAP enabled, you can use to send sms's via mobisms.com from your phone. I've been using this for a couple of years and, despite the odd hiccup here and there, have found it quite reliable.

Also, the added bonus for those leading up to some kind of visa application, is that you can print a history of the sms messages you've sent, including the content if you desire, from the website. Could be a useful addition to your evidence folder.

Don't want to harp on about it, but it's served me very well over the years!

Rob.

gardener, do we have to use up our existing yahoo credit by a certain date?

rob, mobisms sounds excellent. i've had a look at the website and registered, so i have a passcode, but i can't work out how to pay for credits.

ian.

Ian,

you need a paypal account. If you've not got one already, just register at http://www.paypal.co.uk. The standard payment system used for ebay etc.

Hope it works out for you.

Cheers,

Rob.

ian, the yahoo service ends in the next few days thanks for the good advice