If you reply to the email, your message will be sent to the recipient’s phone, allowing you to have a two-way conversation. TextPort uses the email address assigned to every mobile phone number by their carrier (for example 123456789@txt.att.net) to transfer these messages. Messages have a limit of 140 characters. Using TextPort, you can also send messages to other countries for a small charge.

Features:

• Send free text messages to US based cell phones.
• Include email address to receive a reply.
• No registration required.
• Similar tools: JaxtrSMS, Cloud SMS, FutureMessage, TextMe2Day, TxtDrop, 160by2, GizmoSMS, FreeSMSText.org and ConnectMe.

Visit TextPort @ www.textport.com

It’s easy but the caveat is that the texting only works in the US and Canada for now so international users will have to wait.

I think this extension will mainly come in handy when you need to send links to your phone, or maybe send links to someone else. You could text yourself or text that person directly by copy pasting that link to the extension box.

Features

• SMS links, notes etc to your phone directly from computer.
• Only works in US and Canada.

Check out Text This to Me @ chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/dkkpcmkomhogkedgllbfmbinhebihlgn (via Lifehacker By Abhijeet from GT Mobiles)

BeGrouped supports most major cell phone carriers, so the chances are great that you will be able to create an account and get texting. Each group has a founder, and they decide who can join a group if it is private. They can also promote other members of the group to leaders, giving them power to control some who can join.

Groups can work in one of two ways: all messages can be sent to the leader, and he chooses what to send to the group, or all messages can automatically go to the group.

There are also public groups, and they all are set to go to the leader. These are cool if you want to find people to chat with about a specific topic. It could be an interesting way to make some new friends, just make sure you have an unlimited texting plan on your account.

Features:

• Easy to use group text messaging system.
• Private, semi private and public groups available.
• Reply to all members, or to leaders only.
• Organized way to manage group messaging.
• Similar tools: Beluga, FastSociety, Swaggle, SMSMatrix, and GizmoSMS.

Find BeGrouped @ www.begrouped.com

Class Pager allows teachers to engage students and parents though text messages without violating privacy and sharing phone numbers. Teachers simply register for the service and share their code with their students and parents of students. Then they can text the number and everyone on the list will receive the text. This is handy if a teacher needs to contact all their students to let them know about a change to an assignment or something of that nature.

Another handy use for this service is during the actual class. Since it is real-time, teachers can have students send their answers to questions via text, and save them the possible embarrassment of being wrong in front of the class.

Features:

• One number for students and teachers to text.
• Keep student and teacher privacy because no actual phone numbers are shared.
• Real time communication with the group.
• Free for one class, $9.99 for multiple classes.
• No charge for students other than standard messaging rates with carrier.

Find Class Pager @ www.classpager.com

Rage Faces for SMS is a smartphone app for iOS devices. The app is sized at 5.3 MB and compatible with iOS devices running version 4.0 or later. After installing the app from the iTunes store, you can open it up and choose any of the many ‘rage faces’ available. Simply tap a face from the app’s grid and it is copied to the clipboard of your iOS device.

When you are composing an SMS, simply paste the contents of the clipboard’s content to include the rage face within your message.

Features:

• A user-friendly phone app.
• Compatible with iOS devices.
• Lets you paste rage faces into SMS.
• Includes many rage faces.

Check out Rage Faces for SMS @ http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rage-faces-for-sms/id406504595?mt=8 (By Umar from AllThatIsApple)

The app is available for Android, iOS, BlackBerry, Symbian and other smartphones free of cost. It also syncs with your address book so you don’t have to enter the mobile number of the recipient each time. The app also works on WiFi and you can also use it on tablets by getting a global phone number. The app is supported by advertisements which can be a bit annoying for some users but can be easily overlooked due to the value the app provides.

Features:

• Send free text messages to any mobile phone domestic or internationally.
• Send messages from your tablet over WiFi or 3G.
• Free app for almost all smartphone platforms.
• Similar tools: Cloud SMS, FutureMessage, TextMe2Day, TxtDrop, 160by2, GizmoSMS, FreeSMSText.org and ConnectMe.

Download JaxtrSMS from www.jaxtrsms.com

TextMotivate is a very useful application that provides you with the motivation you need to achieve your goals. Various studies have shown that receiving regular motivation for your goals through text messages is extremely effective for people. TextMotivate makes use of the same SMS procedure.

You start by creating an account on the site and picking your goal from the list provided. These goals include the most popular ones people set: regular exercise, sticking to a diet, stop smoking, etc. With your goal set, the site sends you motivational text messages on your cell-phone for a monthly subscription fee of $9.99.

Update: The webmaster behind TextMotivate has offered Makeuseof readers a promo code “MAKEUSEOF”, which will give 7 day trial for free.

Features:

• A user-friendly web service.
• Sends you motivational text messages for your goals.
• Supports numerous goals that people normally set for themselves.
• Accepts credit card payments.
• Similar tools: Daily Motivator and 101-Smart-Goals.

Check out TextMotivate @ www.textmotivate.com (by MOin from Thumb Press)

Cronote works by allowing the user to schedule e-mail or SMS reminders. From the dashboard you can add contacts, groups, and more. You can also import your contacts from Gmail and Facebook.

Cronote reminders are visualized with a button. These buttons provide enough visual cues to make it stand out; bringing a spark to the receiver while making sure they understand the reminder. Cronote also makes it fun for the user to remember stuff like movies they need to watch, music events they need to go to, and health advocacies they should be aware of.

This app can also be used to increase your website conversion rate by adding remind buttons to your product pages, and landing pages. In the same way that Amazon uses wishlists, The Remind button will help customers be notified in the future if they are interested in your product but are not ready to buy yet. This provides a more streamlined experience to customers.

Cronote will more powerful with an upcoming iPhone app. The SMS service is free for up to 50 Cronote credits. This app is useful for anyone who needs a simple and fun way to remind each other.

Features:

• Send visual reminders to friends and family.
• Available free for up to 50 Cronote credits.
• Cronote minds lets you interact with customers to make a sale.
• iPhone App soon to be available.
• Add grouped contacts to Cronote.
• Edit the reminder button.
• Similar Tools: Ping.me, RemindTron, and Remindd

Check out Cronote @ https://www.cronote.com

If you are a teacher, you can sign up for a new account on the site and then name the course that you are teaching. Next you are given a phone number that you should share with students and parents along with a specific text they are required to SMS on that number – this action records their numbers into ClassParrot without revealing it to you. You can then use ClassParrot’s online interface to send SMS notifications to all people enrolled in your class. You can also schedule these SMS messages and hold SMS polls to gather opinions.

Although the site offers 500 free credits initially and then 200 free credits per month, teachers requiring more SMS credits can opt for the site’s premium packages.

Features:

• A user-friendly web service.
• Lets you send SMS notifications to people.
• Targeted at teachers teaching school/college courses.
• Lets you hold SMS polls.
• Lets you schedule SMS messages.
• Keeps recipients’ phone numbers private.

Check out ClassParrot @ http://classparrot.com (By Umar from AllThatIsApple)

Phew MSG is a web service that allows you to create fake iPhone chats just for fun. The amazing thing about the service is the fact that the chat actually looks like the real thing and no one would ever notice that you faked it! Talk about a prank! This one might knock a good laughter into anyone if used properly!

To use it, go the website and enter your name in the top bar. Then below you can see the two Person bars. These are the two people who are texting each other.

Write a message into any and click “OK” to send it to the iPhone chat bubble window! If you don’t like it, you can delete it too by clicking the “X” button next to the message. Once you have made the fake chat, you can click the last button to share the chat and prank your friends!

Quite a funny app in my opinion, but do use it carefully! People might find it seriously real, so don’t use it for wrong purposes!

Features

• Easy to use.
• Create funny chats.
• Great for pranks and funny moments.
• Similar tools: iFakeText and FakeiPhoneText.

Check out PhewMsg @ www.phewmsg.com (by Hammad from TechnicallyDigital)