Free SMS

If you are a heavy sms user, you can save a bit of phone bill by using free sms on the internet. There are good and bad points:

Pros:

• Free! Pay nothing to send a text message
• Able to send sms overseas free of charge
• Can send anonymous text message

Cons:

• Some services may limit the number of sms you can send
• May add a advertisement to the end of your text message, reducing the number of characters for the user own message
  
• Foreign phone number will appear in the sms, the recipient may reply to that number instead of your own number
• There maybe a slight delay in sending and receiving your text message
  

These are some free services I found, I will add new ones from time to time (there are some that only provide a few sms for you to try out their non-free services or only cater for a particular country, which I will not add them here):

Globe7 - You need to download and install a client application and signup for a free account. After that, you are required to earn credits by watching their videos (news clips, entertainment, sports, etc.).  Use the credits to send sms. The longer the video, the more credits you can earn. Yes, this is tough for people who have no time to watch videos, but you can just play a video and minimized the program. Downside: You need to watch several videos just to send a few sms, it will add a Globe7 advertisement at the end of the text message

Update - 27 April 2007: In the latest version, I found that it silently installs a Firefox extension "OFox!" (ofox.dll) which is a adware/hijacker. It may cause Firefox to crash (I found out only after noticing my Firefox keep crashing on start). Therefore Globe7 is NOT RECOMMENDED.

MOBIK - You don't need to install anything, although you may choose to install their client. You must signup for a free account and you can send unlimited free sms directly from the friendly interface running inside your browser. Downside: Limited coverage and advertisement at the end of the text message.

Update - 20 March 2008: They were already gone.

CallWave -  You need to install either Yahoo! Widget or Google Gadget. For me, I installed Yahoo! Widget and also downloaded the widget. You have to enter your email address and optionally your phone number in the Settings section. You should enter your phone number so that it will be shown to the recipient at the beginning of your text message, otherwise your email address will appear instead (which may partially truncated if it is too long). There is a CallWave advertisement at the end of the text message. You can send unlimited sms in the USA and Canada, but limit of 10 sms to other countries per day.

Update - 20 March 2008: They seem to have stopped offering free international sms.

Gizmo SMS - I am unable to test this as my carrier is not in their list of supported mobile networks. Nothing to install, just visit their webpage to send a sms.

FreeCall - They offer free landlines calls to selected countries. Although they stated that you need to pay certain rate for sms, I found that I can send sms at no cost (confirmed in the account page that it is 'FREE!'), however I am not sure if it is unlimited. You need to install their client application to setup a free account and they also has web based interface for phone call and send text message. No advertisement is added in the text message and it can even send a sms that appear to come from your phone number (after verification). I think they have the best free services.

Update - 27 April 2007: I only managed to send 6 sms before it ask me to buy credits.
Update - 20 March 2008: I tried again and it appeared that the quota is reset (maybe this is done monthly).

SendSMSnow - I am unable to test this as my carrier is not in their coverage. Nothing to install, just visit their webpage, register for a free account to send a sms. You can send unlimited sms and even receive replies to your SendSMSnow inbox.

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