Textfree Confusion

[Resist]

So I upgraded today from Textfree Lite to Textfree Unlimited because now this app is free. Since the lite version had ads, I am used to them and won't being paying $6 a year to remove them with this upgrade.

They also give you a real phone number for the app. I am a bit confused as to what the advantage is of having this number. I didn't have a number with the lite version. Someone please educate me.

 

[frank.deale]

It certainly helps to have an assigned number if you are using the app on an iPod Touch.

 

[Resist]

Finally found an answer to my question from Pinger. Having a real phone number makes the app more like the native text app, as messages are sent faster. Not all carriers worked well using email text messages, so having a dedicated phone number for texting solved this problem.

 

[macfan881]

this is great but the one draw back is for text free is they have MMS and SMS separate apps textnows newest update is great and if you got google voice you can use your number too.

 

[Resist]

this is great but the one draw back is for text free is they have MMS and SMS separate apps

I agree, as this should be part of one app.

 

[GoCubsGo]

I wondered this too, thanks for posting this OP. I downloaded this for my iPad and just didn't quite get the whole thing between free and unlimited.

Now that someone's mentioned textnow or whatever I can use with Google voice I think I want that.

 

[Resist]

The only issue with Textnow is that it doesn't use a real phone number. Since Textnow is less expensive, I would bet that Textfree will get MMS soon as well, to compete against them.

 

[sflorack]

Don't really get the idea of "text email" -- or am I missing something?

If I give someone an email address to "text me" with, isn't it just email?

 

[Resist]

If I give someone an email address to "text me" with, isn't it just email?

Yes, but it goes through a text program so you get the message popping up like normal texting would. But now that Textfree gives you a real phone number, it is real texting.