It seems almost silly these days to pay extra for SMS/MMS messaging on our data plans, but if you're an iPhone user you're probably doing just that right now. While I don't plan to totally eliminate texting coming into my main iPhone number I can certainly reduce the amount of messages I send/receive via AT&T by using one of the many free solutions out there. I've used both PingChat and TextNow for quite some time. Both Apps have their place and which one you go with depends on what you're trying to achieve.
PingChat
PingChat is great for friends/family that agree to install it and use it on their devices. Each person sets up a FREE PingChat ID and from that point on you can message that ID from an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Android device or Blackberry running PingChat all you want. This also completely avoids messaging charges for texting someone overseas! For example, I use it all the time with co-reviewer Erik Bernskiold who lives in Sweden. This beats the $0.99 per message charge that AT&T wants to charge me! Since it works over your data plan you can use it over WiFi or 3G.
The newest version rocks by adding not only the ability to share photos and videos, but also voice notes, contacts, map locations and of course text. Yes it has Push Notifications.
This is also a great solution for families instead of AT&T's $30/month charge for an unlimited family texting plan.
You can download PingChat for FREE here from the 
TextNow
Although I love PingChat I'm not going to be able to get everyone I know to install it and setup an ID. TextNow is for everyone else! With TextNow you can use it with either your FREE Google Voice account (the reason I first started using it in the first place) or you can now request a FREE phone number. This is great for giving out your "TextNow" phone number for unlimited texting with just about ANY regular cellphone. So unlike PingChat your friends/family/colleagues don't have to install anything special on their end.
TextNow supports all carriers in the US & Canada. It also supports picture messaging and even forward calls and receive voicemail. Yes it has Push Notifications.
TextNow is FREE, but ad supported. If you don't want to see ads then you can pay a subscription fee instead. Even if you pay the annual subscription it will be MUCH LESS than paying for SMS messaging through your carrier. TextNow also enables regular texting on an iPod touch or iPad. So if you or your teen are getting killed with high messaging bills you can put an end to those bills today!
You can download TextNow for FREE here from the
Also check out heywire
Terry,
have you ever heard about Whatsapp?
I just started using it and the basic idea is the same I’d say.
Take a look at it.
Rgrds