Google has started rolling out free SMS service for customers in India. The service allows users to send SMS to mobile phones from Gmail chat windows (the service is not available on the Google Talk client). Users have to add mobile numbers of their contacts in the email address book and they are ready to sent SMS. The SMS sent from Gmail chat are delivered to mobile phones while replies from the mobile phone come into the chat window.
This system is based on credit system, every sent SMS costing 1 credit & every reply received adds 5 credits. Each user is given 50 credits per day and can’t store more than 50 credits at any given time.
It's reported that Gmail SMS service currently supports below mentioned cellular operators in India -
- Vodafone
- Tata DoCoMo ( T24, Indicom, Virgin )
- Reliance
- MTS
- Loop Mobile
- Idea Cellular
- Aircel
Operators are not supported yet are -
- Airtel
- BSNL
- MTNL
How to send free SMS from Gmail
Verify setting in your Gmail before using the SMS services
- From Gmail, click on Settings, and go to the Labs tab
- Scroll down until you see “Text Messaging (SMS) in Chat” and select Enable
- Also enable the “SMS in Chat gadget” and then Save Changes
In order to send SMS a user should be logged-in into his/her email account. In the chat section enter contact’s name or mobile number (if not added already )
Enter mobile number & click Send SMS
A pop-up will appear asking to save the mobile number with a contact name
Save the contact and a regular chat window will appear allowing you to send SMS.
Update Note:- Although its mentioned here, all mobile operators supported in India, one may get error message while send SMS to the non-supported operator as mention above.
