Expert: DebiN - 10/19/2010

Question
QUESTION: Is there a website where you can do free web texting to a mobile with a 5 digit short code? Also have to enter keyword as well.

ANSWER: You can a send text messages from the internet or from your email to anyone and you will not be charged a thing. The recipient is the only one who pays. There is no short 5 digit code. You have to put in their wireless number (all 10 digits) then @ and then the carrier's text messaging address, i.e., vztxt.com. There's also no keyword or anything like that either. Thanks.

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QUESTION: I don't know the full mobile number & don't know their carrier's text messaging address. It only gives a short code consisting of 5 digits. It intructs you to start the text message by texting a given keyword. It comes in the form i.e. "Text 12367 Keyword John". It gives this short code form in TV and scratchcards when applying for competitions.

ANSWER: You can't do this for people. Those short codes are only for contests, radio stations, etc., where the company pays to have a short code. It's not for individuals.

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QUESTION: Whether its for people or companies is irelevant. Does that mean I can't text from a computer ? Can only use a mobile ? I don't have a mobile.  

Answer
Yes, you can text from your computer. What I was telling you is that there are not short codes that you can use on a computer. When you send a text from your computer, you have to use the whole address, so if you are trying to text to a short code, you won't be able to from your computer. You will need to find out what that translates to and then you can send a text. Those short codes can only be used with a mobile phone. Some of those companies will have the translation so that you can send from a computer, but not all.