Best free texting?

[Turbohog]

Hey guys, my family wants to get iPhones, but we're turned off by the texting prices. I knew there were some free texting apps that take advantage of the 3g, but I'm not sure which is best...I know they all give you a number or email that your friends must text. What if someone tries to call the given number? Will it forward it to your iPhone? Thanks.
Edit: I read that TextNOW supports Google Voice. As in you can have text messages sent to your google voice number...Does that mean if someone calls your google voice number it will be forwarded to your phone?

 

[kicko]

Hey guys, my family wants to get iPhones, but we're turned off by the texting prices. I knew there were some free texting apps that take advantage of the 3g, but I'm not sure which is best...I know they all give you a number or email that your friends must text. What if someone tries to call the given number? Will it forward it to your iPhone? Thanks.
Edit: I read that TextNOW supports Google Voice. As in you can have text messages sent to your google voice number...Does that mean if someone calls your google voice number it will be forwarded to your phone?

Textnow is probably your best choice. If you set it up with your GV number you can just have your friends etc. send a text using the GV#, and it will appear in textnow.

Calls with the GV# will be forwarded anywhere you want, thats the idea behind the service.

 

[Turbohog]

Yeah I figured it all out eventually. Thanks for posting! I think you're right.

 

[pbkiller]

Yeah, TextNow is basically your best option. You also said that the whole family would be getting iPhones, you can try MessageNow as well. Its free and works with everybody who owns an iPhone... Good luck!

 

[Raleigh56]

Yeah, TextNow is basically your best option. You also said that the whole family would be getting iPhones, you can try MessageNow as well. Its free and works with everybody who owns an iPhone... Good luck!

If I get an iphone and load message now, I understand I can text with other iphone users for free but not other non-iphone users, correct?

 

[IronLogik]

If I get an iphone and load message now, I understand I can text with other iphone users for free but not other non-iphone users, correct?

Correct. MessageNow is only able to send messages to other MessageNow users. So both iphones need the app (or well all of your friends, so however many iphones that is). MessageNow won't "text" other iPhones. Each iPhone needs the app. Make sense?