FREE BLACKBEERY SMS MESSAGES

If you have a BlackBerry data plan, you can use the FREE service Teleflip to send and receive* SMS messages without incurring those nasty SMS charges!

When you want to send an SMS message, simply email 10DigitPhoneNumber@teleflip.com using the recipient's 10 digit cell phone number in place of 10DigitPhoneNumber.

Your message will go out via email (covered by your BlackBerry data plan), but received by the cell phone of the 10 digit phone number you used in the email address as an SMS message.

Better yet, when the recipient replies to the SMS message, you'll receive it via email (again, covered by your BlackBerry data plan).
TIP 1: If you have someone you SMS regularly, add their "Teleflip" SMS email address to their entry in your address book!
You do NOT need to register with the service to use it! The service is really designed for simple cell phones to be able to email out, but how nice that it works this way too!

One thing to remember - SMS messages cost per 160 characters. If you use an email address that automatically appends your signature, you can easily end up costing the recipient another message just because of the signature. Use an email address that doesn't automatically append a signature to your outgoing email.
TIP 2: Set up an Autotext called sig that translates into what you'd normally like to use as a signature and turn off Auto Signature. Then, when you want your signature, simply type sig and hit [Space] or [Enter] and your signature will appear!

One other thing. My company appends ALL emails with a legal disclaimer that by itself is four SMS messages! If you have a similar situation, and can set up a BIS account, be nice to the people you send messages to and set yourself
For information on the service, go to https://www.teleflip.com

*Of course if someone sends you an SMS message, you'll receive it as an SMS message and incur any associated charges. I don't know if this would actually work (feedback please), but if you receive an SMS message, send back a message using the sender's Teleflip email address and ask the recipient to add that address to their address book for you so they can send you a message without getting it as an SMS message.