I really want to get rid of my phone

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by RHWright

Now if they'd just come down on the data plans...

Never happen; that's where the money is. Forced data is why I don't have a smartphone. I'm content with a feature phone for voice and texting; and a Galaxy Player for free, unlimited wifi data.

[Hellmark]

To the OP, try Google Voice. It has SMS capability (but not MMS).

But it really isn't a technical problem as to why tablets don't text, a 3G/4G tablet could technically be assigned a number, to use for SMS, but not many would use it to make it worth while to invest the resources to enable it, and they want you to pay for the phone still, in addition to the tablet.

Originally Posted by RHWright

I keep wondering when they'll start offering "phones" with emergency-only phone minutes, but with plenty of messaging and data. I don't come anywhere near my 550 minutes of talk per month.

Can't wait for AT&T to force me into the shared data with "unlimited" talk. Just what I need! Now if they'd just come down on the data plans...

Problem with that, is most companies don't want to be just a tube through which you access services with. They want to be the services you use.

[ucfgrad93]

Originally Posted by StoryEnthusiast

Thanks for the advice regarding phone's use in emergencies. OK, I'll keep a cheap phone. But the question is, can tablets handle SMS?

Actually, I like Samsung Note but it's too expensive. If its price drops below US$200, then it will be a good choice for me.

Originally Posted by WritePR

No. Tablets aren't phones. Only mobile phones do SMS.

The iPad does SMS.

http://www.apple.com/ipad/built-in-apps/

[Piper_]

For Android, the popular SMS apps for tablets are Tablet Talk, MySMS, and SyncSms.
Or, as noted above, use Google.

[Andrew H.]

Originally Posted by ucfgrad93

The iPad does SMS.

http://www.apple.com/ipad/built-in-apps/

It does iMessages, which are like SMS but only for people on iOS. You can't send an iMessage to someone with an Android phone.

(Maybe the iPad with a phone plan does SMS; I don't know - but the attached description is just iMessage).

[David Munch]

Originally Posted by ucfgrad93

The iPad does SMS.

http://www.apple.com/ipad/built-in-apps/

No, the iPad does iMessage which is using the XMPP protocol, and is thus an instant messaging service.

It does not do sms.

[GreenMonkey]

You could so something in the middle. When the Galaxy Note 1 prices drop a bit (probably when the Galaxy Note 2 comes out soon), grab an unlocked GSM one and use with an SmartTalk with an AT&T GSM sim for $45/mo.

I get by on an old Optimus V on Virgin Mobile for $25/mo with 300 min/unl data/unl text (it's $35/mo now). Prepaid is where reasonably priced wireless for the non-phone-obsessed is at!

[Dazrin]

Like Hellmark said, I would look into Google Voice. You can get a dedicated phone number for it and have it forward to any other number you have control of. It accepts SMS (not MMS). I use it at work to get SMS in my email so I don't have to mess with my phone.

[Cdesja5]

I seem to recall that you can send an email message to sms using the phone number and the correct domain, example: 5143330000@fido.ca
You have to know the carrier of the person you are texting however, as well as their phone number. I believe you should be able to find the list of domains by doing a Google search, I recall I had found it once upon a time when trying to reach my daughter instead of calling long distance... Otherwise you should be able to find it on the cell company website site by searching for "email to sms"... If I recall correctly the cell user just "replies" and you get their answer by email.
Edit: found more details:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_SMS_gateways
How to:

http://mob.conduit.com/d8221e2f-6894...mail-to-sms%2f

No need for an app or for having the same app for both users.

[StoryEnthusiast]

Never thought about using Google Voice to do SMS. I'll have to look into it. Thanks.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Dazrin

Like Hellmark said, I would look into Google Voice. You can get a dedicated phone number for it and have it forward to any other number you have control of. It accepts SMS (not MMS). I use it at work to get SMS in my email so I don't have to mess with my phone.

Yep, that works. Just tried it.

[Cdesja5]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Yep, that works. Just tried it.

Not in Canada yet... And probably not in New Zealand
It's another of those things that doesn't get rolled out as quickly outside the US.
There is a work-around but you can't get it to work "out of the box"...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1561253

[StoryEnthusiast]

I did a search on Google Voice. Does it work only in the US but not NZ?

[Kumabjorn]

That is one of the problems when discussing apps for Android. It has more georestrictions than Random House.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Cdesja5

Not in Canada yet... And probably not in New Zealand
It's another of those things that doesn't get rolled out as quickly outside the US.
There is a work-around but you can't get it to work "out of the box"...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1561253

Ah, thanks for that. I didn't realize (but probably should have) that it was geographical.