[HOWTO]Free email to sms txt gateway

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DarkShadow

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#38509 30-Jul-2009 17:35

Here's how to send emails to your non-smart phone for free.

You need two Twitter accounts. If you already have one, use it as account A.
On account A: add your mobile phone (this will cost you 20c), follow account B and turn on device updates.
On account B: set updates to private.

Use account B to signup to Twitter Mail Gateway or Twittermail. Done!

freitasm

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#240678 30-Jul-2009 17:45

Good hack!

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kiwikev

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#240680 30-Jul-2009 17:47

this will only send mail to one person though ?

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mjb

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#240682 30-Jul-2009 17:49

kiwikev: this will only send mail to one person though ?

Correct, there's only one mail message. *to* the twittermail gateway.

If you want multiple SMS messages coming out, create more than one account to follow account B, and give them mobile numbers too.

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nate

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#240685 30-Jul-2009 17:52

.. or you could use their API and follow a private account and get free SMS messages when one of your systems go down.

All theoretically speaking of course

richms

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#240692 30-Jul-2009 18:18

yes, you could do that, I have half implemented it for order notification on a mates online store via ping.fm to get the updates into twitter instead.

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Dratsab

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#240694 30-Jul-2009 18:27

@DarkShadow - Gold!!

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RedJungle

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#240709 30-Jul-2009 19:00

nate: .. or you could use their API and follow a private account and get free SMS messages when one of your systems go down.

Assuming twitter isn't down at the time

NZCoderGuy

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#240776 30-Jul-2009 22:29

hmmm i have been doing something the same or very similar for the last few months..
A) have updates and DMs sent to my mobile
B) have updates and DMs sent to mates in this case (2 mates) mobile
C) DM via TXT (TWTR) sends to Twitter, then back to recipient.
D) works both ways.

Vodafone and Telecom both state that txts to Twitter cost 20c, yet they still havent implemented this yet. so its free for the time being.. /me staying on prepaid just incase this catches up with me ;-)

So currently i can txt a mate in Texas (USA) for free both ways (they have unlimited data/txt plan) and also a mate on Telecoms Network from my Vodafone.

Its very fast, get instant replies etc.

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ahmad

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#240858 31-Jul-2009 09:46

I've only just skimmed this page because I don't fully understand how mobile twitter works.

Can someone please explain to me why this works?

Is it because RECEIVING twitter updates is free and it only costs to SEND using your mobile?

Are twitter charges the same on both XT and VF?

And what is meant when it is claimed:

Vodafone and Telecom both state that txts to Twitter cost 20c, yet they still havent implemented this yet. so its free for the time being.. /me staying on prepaid just incase this catches up with me ;-)

RedJungle

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#240859 31-Jul-2009 09:49

Receiving SMS's via twitter is free.

Sending updates to twitter via SMS will cost you whatever you normally pay to send a SMS on your mobile - but they haven't started charging for this yet (I suspect because they haven't built the infrastructure to do the billing yet!)

NZCoderGuy

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#240866 31-Jul-2009 10:14

Yes exactly. The infrastructure isnt in place to bill for sending the txts to Twitter yet.. so currently are free for the time being..

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ahmad

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#240867 31-Jul-2009 10:15

Will receive continue to be free as far as common sense dictates?

nate

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#240917 31-Jul-2009 12:09

RedJungle: Assuming twitter isn't down at the time

I had to turn off email error notifications on that application because I was getting a deluge of error reports. The Twitter API is far from being reliable

DarkShadow

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#240985 31-Jul-2009 14:16

Vodafone and Telecom both state that txts to Twitter cost 20c, yet they still havent implemented this yet. so its free for the time being.. /me staying on prepaid just incase this catches up with me ;-)

Nice, and even when they start charging for it, it will still be cheaper than international texts at 30c.

EDIT: "We'll charge to tweet by TXT from [next] Friday morning - sending will cost standard rate for TXT to non-Vodafone eg 20c. Receive = free." [Twitter]