Google is innovating in every possible way to get people connected online and offline. Gmail has expanded its popular feature which allow users to send free SMS messages to their friends directly through its integrated online chat service. Google’s free SMS with Gmail now supported by all telecom operators in India which includes Airtel, Aircel, Idea cellular, Loop Mobile, MTS, Reliance, Tata DoCoMo, Tata indicom, BSNL, MTNL, Vodafone, Etisalat, HFCL, Stel, Sistema and Videocon.
Google grants a credit of fifty messages to users through which users can send free SMS through Gmail Chat. Every time users send a message, the credit decreases by one and every time users receive back an SMS message in Chat (when a mobile user replies back) their SMS credit increases by five, up to a maximum of 50. If you use up all your free SMS credits then Google will replenish the free SMS credit 24 hours later.
Step 1 – Type the phone number in the Chat & SMS windows and click Send SMS ( Your must also add the country code in front of the mobile number, like for India add +91 before the mobile number)
Step 2 – Add the SMS recipient’s name and country, then click Save.
Step 3 – Write in your SMS message in the chat window and press Enter to send the message
Step 4 – That’s all your SMS will be delivered instantly
If your friends replies back to your message, then the text message response will appear as a reply in Chat. These SMS conversations are stored in users Chat history just like regular chats, so you can retrieve your conversation at any time. Also note that when replying with an SMS from phone to Gmail, they will be charged as standard SMS rate by the telecom operator.
Google is pushing this free SMS service among its users, next time you login to Gmail account, you will probably be greeted with a pop-up message saying “New! Free SMS in Gmail“.