SMS from a PC

[AggieMike88]

Can anyone recommend an affordable and reliable solution for my business to send customers an SMS from our PC workstations. Receiving texts back to this system is also needed

We don't want to do it for spamvertising. What we do want it for is to notify customers that their part order is ready to be picked up, and as a quick follow up to their "do you have" phone calls.

Doing it from a phone or tablet isn't what I'm looking for. Just something along the lines of the classic AIM or Trillian clients, but goes out to the customer's smart phone, and I'm doing it on my PC workstation.

 

[MAKG1]

You used to be able to do that just by e-mailing their phone number. E.g., 8005551212@txt.att.net

 

[AggieMike88]

You used to be able to do that just by e-mailing their phone number. E.g., 8005551212@att.com

But I don't ask for their provider. I'm hoping for something that has an interface similar to an IM client, and the functionality of our existing smart phones in regards to never needing to know what system you're smart phone is tethered to.

 

[dmspilot]

Google voice, although I don't know if you can still get a free account.

 

[AggieMike88]

Google voice, although I don't know if you can still get a free account.

I don't mind a reasonable subscription price if the features and solid reputation is there.

 

[JeffDG]

Check out twilio.com.

They have an incredibly flexible platform that lets you do voice and SMS for fractions of pennies per.

 

[JeffDG]

Google voice, although I don't know if you can still get a free account.

You can do GV for free. It's integrated into their "Hangouts" on the PC side of things.

 

[JeffDG]

But I don't ask for their provider. I'm hoping for something that has an interface similar to an IM client, and the functionality of our existing smart phones in regards to never needing to know what system you're smart phone is tethered to.

Google voice is probably your best bet for that functionality.

The twilio suggestion would let you integrate with your shipping system, so when you shipped something it would do it automagically.

 

[kgruber]

+1 on Google Voice. It also has many other useful functions, like VOIP.

For instance, I don't take voice messages on my Verizon phone. Too obtrusive. But on Google Voice they are transcribed to a text, and email. MUCH better! And it's free.

 

[ahkahn]

We used to use Google Voice. We now use RingCentral for all of our phone needs, and SMS texting is included.

 

[AggieMike88]

We used to use Google Voice. We now use RingCentral for all of our phone needs, and SMS texting is included.

Does Ring Central interface on the PC as my OP asked about?

 

[JeffDG]

Appears to:http://www.ringcentral.com/office/features/desktop-apps/overview.html

 

[texasag93]

Watch out for free services, there will be something that says they can start pushing ads or something like that. It may be so far out that it does not matter to you.

Paying for it gives you terms that are known.

Free advice is worth just that.

 

[cowman]

Can anyone recommend an affordable and reliable solution for my business to send customers an SMS from our PC workstations. Receiving texts back to this system is also needed

We don't want to do it for spamvertising. What we do want it for is to notify customers that their part order is ready to be picked up, and as a quick follow up to their "do you have" phone calls.

Doing it from a phone or tablet isn't what I'm looking for. Just something along the lines of the classic AIM or Trillian clients, but goes out to the customer's smart phone, and I'm doing it on my PC workstation.

I already have this. If you have an iphone and a mac they have this functionality built in with iMessage.

But you said affordable... so..

 

[SkyHog]

Can anyone recommend an affordable and reliable solution for my business to send customers an SMS from our PC workstations. Receiving texts back to this system is also needed

We don't want to do it for spamvertising. What we do want it for is to notify customers that their part order is ready to be picked up, and as a quick follow up to their "do you have" phone calls.

Doing it from a phone or tablet isn't what I'm looking for. Just something along the lines of the classic AIM or Trillian clients, but goes out to the customer's smart phone, and I'm doing it on my PC workstation.

Google voice. Free and amazing.

 

[jesse]

I already have this. If you have an iphone and a mac they have this functionality built in with iMessage.

But you said affordable... so..

Wouldn't work without an iPhone with a valid phone number on the network for non iMessage customers.

 

[Flavius Renatus]

3rd or 4th recommendation for Google Voice.

Flav

 

[overdrive148]

Back in the day, I used to use Yahoo! Messenger (I know, right) to do that. It might have been limited to only some carriers but I could send them for free by adding a phone number to text. YMMV

 

[ggroves]

Does Ring Central interface on the PC as my OP asked about?

Yes, they have a variety of interfaces, including an API if you want to integrate to an application to automate functionality. Their customer support is also solid. GV, on the personal account side, has the typical 'Post a Message' type of support. Not good in a business setting.