send SMS Chat via Gmail

You can send SMS messages to your contacts’ mobile phones using Gmail Chat. To do so from Gmail:

1. Enter your contact’s name in the ‘Search or invite friends’ box in Chat, and select Send SMS from the box of options that appears to the right of your contact’s name. Or, if you already have a Chat window open for this contact, just click Options, and select Send SMS.
2. In the dialog box, enter a phone number in the ‘Send SMS messages to this number’ field. For now, this feature works only on United States phone numbers. If you're outside the US, you can still use it, but you won't see the SMS option in Chat until you enable it manually in the Chat settings page.
3. Click Save.
4. A Chat window appears. Just type your message as you would normally. When you hit Enter, the message will be sent to the phone number you entered.

Below is a list of supported mobile operators for SMS Chat in Gmail

• Ghana
  Airtel
  MTN
  Tigo
  
  
• Angola
  Unitel
  


• Bahrain
  Zain
  


• Indonesia
  Indosat
  Telkomsel


• Iraq
  Zain
  


• Israel
  orange
  Pelephone
  


• Jordan
  Zain


• Kenya
  Airtel
  orange
  Safaricom
  
  
• Kuwait
  Wataniya
  Zain
  
  
• Liberia
  Cellcom


• Malawi
  Airtel
  TNM
  


• Mozambique
  Vodacom


• Nigeria
  Glo
  Starcomms
  
  
• Palestinian Territories
  Jawwal
  Wataniya Mobile


• Philippines
  SMART
  Sun Cellular


• Saudi Arabia
  STC


• Senegal
  orange
  Tigo


• Tanzania
  Vodacom


• Tunisia
  Tunisiana


• Uganda
  Orange
  MTN
  Uganda Telecom
  
• United States
  All operators


• Zambia
  Airtel
  MTN

If your contact replies, the text message response will appear as a reply in Chat. These conversations are stored in your Chat history just like regular chats (but keep in mind that you can’t go off the record while communicating via SMS).

SMS charges: Google does not charge for using this service. However, mobile providers' standard charges will apply to any SMS messages sent from a mobile device to Google Chat. Please check your mobile provider's price plan for details.

Note regarding mobile phone subscribers in North America: depending on which mobile plans your contacts in North America have, they may be charged by their mobile providers for receiving text messages.

Note regarding phone subscribers of Pelephone in Israel: your contacts on the Pelephone network will receive your SMS messages for free, and will be charged for replying according to Pelephone's pricelist for core service. Special rates and packages do not apply.

Note regarding mobile phone subscribers in Zambia: your contacts in Zambia will receive SMS messages for free, and will be charged for replying according to their operator's price for sending an international SMS to the USA.