Google Now Lets You Text Message from Gmail
Because we can't get enough new Gmail features, Google today rolled out a Gmail Labs feature that lets you send text messages from your Gmail chat window. I got a hands-on demo of this simple, but useful feature from Gmail Product Manager Keith Coleman a half hour ago, when he had me send a text message to his iPhone from my Gmail account. I simply entered his 10-digit area code and phone number in the chat window, and it offered me the option to send an SMS. I clicked on it, entered "Keith" as my contact, entered "This feature is cool" (like a geek) and hit Enter. I'm in Connecticut; Coleman is in Mountain View, Calif. He received my message in 3 seconds. Coleman was a brand-new contact for me, so I had to enter his number to begin the SMS process. Users can SMS their existing Gmail chat contacts by opening a chat window and selecting the option to send an SMS. Once you enter their phone numbers, it will save the digits in your contact entries. This means that when those contacts go offline, the chat window will give you the option to switch to SMS. Coleman said:
"This basically came from people saying, 'It's frustrating that when my friend goes offline, I can't chat with them,' so we decided to build something to address it." There's more to the efficiency quotient. Usually, when you send an SMS from your computer to a phone, it shows up on the phone as a short code, or a super long number that changes all of the time. When you send an SMS from Google chat, you get assigned a unique phone number for every pair of Gmail user and phone contact. That means that every time you SMS a contact, that contact will see the same number. That means the contact can add that to their contact lists on their phone. Coleman explained it thus:
"Let's say a month down the road, I'm at an airport and I know you're in front of your computer and I want to have you look up my flight information. I can just text you at that number, and it will show up right in your Gmail account." Note, this Gmail Labs feature applies to U.S. phone numbers only. Now word yet on when it will be available internationally. While Coleman claimed Google has no master plan regarding this incredible swath of Gmail features that have rolled out from Labs or via default in 2008, it's no secret Gmail is becoming a rich communications and collaboration tool. Even better, most of these features will appeal to consumers and business users alike. This duality should make Gmail an attractive Web mail product for users looking to defect from Microsoft or Yahoo Web mail. Check out alternative coverage from WebMonkey and TechCrunch here. |
Comments (32)
how do you enable this in gmail?
Posted by dave | October 31, 2008 5:54 AM
What about International numbers?
Posted by Fabio | October 31, 2008 6:10 AM
Dave:
Coleman turned it on for me last night by way of example. It was supposed to begin rolling out last night to others (along with a blog post announcing it). Not sure what happened. In the meantime, keep your eye on Gmail Labs.
Posted by Clint Boulton
| October 31, 2008 7:38 AM
Fabio:
That feature only includes U.S. numbers at this time.
Posted by Clint Boulton
| October 31, 2008 7:39 AM
Fwiw, this has worked in iChat/AIM for years. Create a contact that is a cell phone # then send your text.
Posted by passerby | October 31, 2008 3:45 PM
You have been able to do this from yahoo's chat in their email for a few months. Its nice that google is working on it but if you want it right now.
http://help.yahoo.com/tutorials/cg/mail/cg_text4.html
Posted by nick | October 31, 2008 3:48 PM
Lovely, but I'd be more impressed if if could receive sms from outside devices, like a cell phone.
Posted by Innobater | October 31, 2008 4:46 PM
@Innobater
Did you not read the article?
Posted by tito | October 31, 2008 6:27 PM
Innobater : Does it not say that replying to the text number will create a message in gmail?
Posted by M | October 31, 2008 7:18 PM
Innobater :
You can receive sms from cell phones; you just have to initiate contact.
Posted by AnotherDigger | October 31, 2008 10:11 PM
sending SMS in Gmail are only includes in U.S. version.
Posted by distordz | November 1, 2008 12:27 AM
For anyone that needs to text to freind rember there are gateways built in by the providers. I text, a lot now by asking what provider your with then you can form there adress for example, most of my contacts are verizon so I just right down there number and @vtext.com to end of there name and presto texting right from gmail. If its mms, its #@vpix.com( I think) . I try not to text a lot becouse in terms of kilobite usage fairness its insane the actual cost of a simple message. if only everyone understood that data is data. Buy an unlimted data plan and learn how to make it work for you.
Posted by seanmckendry | November 1, 2008 1:45 AM
Only in the USA do you have to pay to RECEIVE sms messages.
It's shocking, and to be honest the rest of the world is laughing at you.
Posted by Bob | November 2, 2008 9:10 AM
I suppose if you have gTalk on your phone/iPhone/G1/etc, then you can be online there & send an SMS to someone else's mobile for free too (supposing your mobile is online & there's isnt, just one scenario).
As someone else mentioned, this has existed with AIM (ie: 5552223333@aim.com) for a long time now. Of course, it is better to move from proprietary AIM to XMPP (gtalk) so that is a step in the correct direction. However theirs doesn't let you have the unique entries in your roster like Google's does, so that is a plus their way again.
All steps in the correct direction. One day, perhaps, we will all be using XMPP for presence & interoperability with PBX, mobiles, IM, SMS, et cetera, can we can take back some of money that the large telco's/cellco's are stealing from us!
Posted by Jason SJOBECK | November 4, 2008 3:46 AM
Is this feature currently up and running? I am in Florida and tried this feature in gmail running on chrome and nothing. The number I tried was a local Florida number. Yes I entered all 10 digits.
Posted by joe | November 7, 2008 2:27 PM
Joe:
Not yet. Check back on Google watch over the next couple weeks.
thanks,
Clint Boulton
Posted by Clint Boulton
| November 7, 2008 10:01 PM
Hey sorry for my ignorance but how do i find the option to text from Gmail? Is it free? and what are Gmail Labs??? AGAIN SORRY FOR MY IGNORACE, PLEASE HELP
Posted by Miles | November 13, 2008 1:44 PM
Miles:
It's not available yet. Google is still working out the kinks, sorry.
Clint Boulton
Posted by Clint Boulton
| November 13, 2008 1:50 PM
Hello friends, is Google still working out the kinks?? What will the cost be??
Posted by Miles | November 20, 2008 3:55 PM
How many months behind yahoo is google on this SMS feature?
That and yahoo offers unlimited space. 7 gigs of gmail is definitely less and unlimited yahoo space, or unlimited hotmail live space.
yahoo's system is two way
google on the upside is still creepy.
Posted by Seth | December 6, 2008 6:32 AM
in my settings there are no labs, how can i access the SMS? is there a cost or something??
Posted by MILES | December 22, 2008 2:03 PM
Miles:
Click the green lab icon at the top of gmail. scroll down for the feature, check the box, and hit save.
Posted by Clint Boulton
| December 22, 2008 2:31 PM
What happen to this feature, is it gone forever???? that would be so sad :(
Posted by Sakanath Yah | June 27, 2009 7:50 PM
Sakantha:
not forever, but it is down: http://googlewatch.eweek.com/content/google_goofs/google_disables_gmail_sms_text_chat_after_it_goes_wonky.html
Posted by Clint Boulton
| June 28, 2009 12:22 PM
Is it possible to send GROUP Text Messages with CHAT?
Thanks
Posted by Nick Huntington | August 11, 2009 11:45 AM
Nick:
No, sorry. not yet.
Posted by Clint Boulton
| August 11, 2009 12:03 PM
ok but does this cost money on my phone bill even if i do have unlimited texting?
Posted by Haley L. | September 4, 2009 6:15 PM
Haley:
It doesn't cost you anything to send an SMS from your PC. However, it does count toward the texting data plan of the person receiving the texts.
Posted by Clint Boulton
| September 4, 2009 8:13 PM
hey does gmail cost money to send a text message to your gmail if u have unlimited text
Posted by salina | October 15, 2009 5:59 PM
NO.
Posted by Clint Boulton
| October 15, 2009 6:00 PM
I was wondering if this is something that google ever did. Can you let me know how to activate it if it is. I can't find it anywhere.
Posted by Eldon Kelley | November 2, 2009 7:09 PM
Eldon:
Click on the sLa icon at the type right, scroll down and enable Text Messaging (SMS) in Chat
Click save to enable.
Next, click on a contact in Gmail, select Send SMS, enter your contact's mobile number and type away.
Posted by Clint Boulton
| November 2, 2009 8:39 PM