For example, you might see “messaging” on a phone’s menu to start the texting process. Or you might see “Send SMS” instead. It means the same thing. Newer smart phones will offer keyboards that are touch screens. You will use this to type the message. On older phones, you will need to use a keyboard built into the phone itself, that doubles as the buttons you press with numbers to call people.
Some cell phone plans have unlimited texting built into the plan. If you’re going to be texting a lot, this might be a better idea. Some plans will only let you send a certain number of texts per month before incurring overcharges, though. If you don’t have an unlimited plan, you could be charged something like 20 cents per text, so make sure you research the costs beforehand.
On some phones, it will say messages on the bottom of the screen. Choose it. Select “new text message. ” With an iPhone, you may see a green messages box on the home page. Touch it or click OK, depending on the phone. [2] X Research source
To continue texting a person you’ve texted before, simply click on their name or phone number first. If you’ve never texted the person, you will need to have their phone number handy in order to text them. You will be texting directly to their cell phone (or landline).
This icon is a + sign in some phones. In iPhones, it’s a little square with a line. This should open up the new text message box. When you click on the icon, a new message box opens. This is where you will type your message. First you need to decide who you will be sending the text to and obtain their contact information.
You could also select the number from the contact list in your phone’s address book. Just type their name in the field, and it might autofill the number in for you. If you’ve texted the person before, when you start typing in the number, it might also show up automatically for you. To send a text to more than one person with a smart phone, simply click on the plus sign icon. Or you can just add more contacts in the To: field by adding more phone numbers or names (if they are in your contact list).
If you have an older handset that has a numeric keypad, you will see letters under each of the numbers you use to call people. You may need to press the key several times to enter the letter you want if the number key has several letters on it. On some phones you will press “O” to type a space. If you have a newer smart phone, like an iPhone or Android, you can just tap out letters on a touch screen keyboard, so it will be a lot easier.
Click the camera icon for some newer smart phones. The phone’s photo library will pop up. You can select a preexisting photo of video from it. Clicking on it will add it to your text. Some newer phones also have a “take photo or video” function. If you click it, you can take a photo or record a video right into the text message. Some phones also allow you to record an audio text. To do this, click on the little microphone sign (or similar icon) on the bottom right of the text message box. Tap and hold to send audio. This allows you to record your voice instead of texting via written word.
If you want to reply to a text message, it works the same way. You click on the text you’ve received, and then type your reply in the smaller message box that appears at the bottom of the screen. Then hit “send” after you’ve completed your reply, and it will text the reply back to the person who wrote to you. The benefit of a text message is it should reach the recipient immediately. To forward a text message, tap and hold the message. Select the option to forward the message. You will probably find this under the “options” menu. Again you will have to type the recipient’s phone number into the To: field and send it.
You can only write 160 characters for each text, so get to the point. Think of a text email as a short email. You can keep texting, but the cell phone will break your text into multiple texts. Watch your tone. People can misperceive it, thinking you are angry when you are not. Stay polite in text messages and remember that people could save them to use against you.
You may receive these codes from someone texting you, and you will need to know what they mean. Some common ones are: BRBR (Be right back). BTW (by the way). IDK (I don’t know). IMO (in my opinion). Other codes include LOL (laugh out loud). ILY (I love you). FWIW (For what it’s worth). And CUL8R (See you later). [3] X Research source
There are also emoticons for kisses, love, anger, sadness, crying, and basically every emotion you might be feeling. People use emoticons in texts to express how they are feeling in a way that is less ambiguous. [4] X Research source Newer smart phones, such as iPhones, are going to have more complex and elaborate emoticons than the typical smiley faces. You will usually see the emoticons as a choice at the bottom of your keyboard screen or text message box when texting.
Sometimes people sign up for text alerts because they want to receive information about breaking news, traffic, or weather information. Some television shows allow automated voting or contest participation via text messaging. It’s also possible to forward your emails to your mobile device.
You can also send text messages to landline phones using “text to landline” services. [6] X Research source The service will convert your text into a voicemail. You create and text the message the same way, simply plugging in the number of the landline. However, you may have to purchase the service first. Call your phone provider. Some phone plans include text to landline automatically. If the landline is eligible to receive the text, the message will be sent, usually with a recorded female voice. Some landline recipients can reply with voice message.
