texting from a PC

how is this achieved? what software is needed. I am thinking of texting

Jackie...

I used to be able to do several free texts a day from Tiscali but I
can't find where it is on their site now Len.

Bram...

You used to be able to text free from Lycos but I think they charge now.

I'm sure I used to be able to text from ICQ but it's years since I used it.

to mobile phones.

Organic Icecube...

MSN have an SMS service built into Messenger. Provided the person you're
texting has an MSN Messenger account and has set up the mobile phone bit you
can send them texts (I believe it is free to send from pc to phone, but they
may be charged to send you a text back).

Rabbit...

texts but I read that they are no longer taking new accounts for the free
service though I don't know anybody who has tried to sign up for a new
account.

datasmog...

I think most if not all the free sms gateways left are for foreign
networks so not much use to us.
Check your cell providers website, they may have a gateway with some
free texts.
Orange do. Or did, I haven't used it for ages.

zack...

Recycle food today, eat a burger for dinner & tea.
Destructive typing in progress, please watch your fingers.
Will the last person to leave planet earth switch of the light.

Old Grizzly...

thanks, i tried it and i must say you have to be prepared for lots of
popups and ancestry web pages and other multipage surveys. The actual
workings are alright but personaly for me the pop ups etc are too
intrusive. Ah well back to the phone keypad :)

datasmog...

I tried it with Firefox and the pop up blocker enabled. Yes I checked
the box promising not to do that. Sod 'em. I got no pop ups and the
message was delivered within a minute.
Downside, the message comes with a "Free SMS at cbfsms.com" footer
together with the gateway phone number.
So it would be important to say who the message is from when you write
it otherwise the recipient will be a bit puzzled.
Apart from that, quite useful.

Old Grizzly...

aha i did stop popups as asked ;-) so perhaps i will try again ;-)