socialmedian: Gmail Enables SMS Messaging From Chat

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Source: TechCrunch

Dec 11, 2008

Summary

Only a few days after the launch of its new task manager, Gmail has introduced a new feature allowing users to send free SMS messages through its integrated Chat. To activate the feature, visit the Gmail Labs page and scroll down until you see the appropriate listing (you may also want to activate a few of the other nifty features while you’re at it).

To send a message, just type a phone number into the search box at the top of the chat window on the left side of the Gmail interface, and hit ‘Send SMS’. Numbers can be associated with contact names so you don’t have to keep manually entering them. Recipients of these messages can respond by simply hitting ‘reply’ on their cell phones to send their own SMS message (Gmail ties a unique phone number with each of your contacts).

According to the Gmail blog post, the site is currently testing out the service for US phones only for now (messages can be sent from abroad, they just need to be directed at a US phone).

Gmail first toyed around with the feature in October, but wound up pulling it from Labs for a few we

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Comments (12)

Jrblaze,

Dec 11, 2008

It's Back

Nishith,

Dec 11, 2008

and they also have Tasks but those are part of Gmail Labs but not yet made available for Google Apps. So much wish they did.

Jasongoldberg,

Dec 11, 2008

@nishith do you really use tasks?

Nishith,

Dec 11, 2008

@jasongoldberg I don't since it is not available with Google Apps. Instead, I use trac ;)

Jasongoldberg,

Dec 11, 2008

@nishith I have found that whenever an app has something like tasks I try it by never really use it. I guess the best PIM (personal information management) is in my head or on a piece of paper. Like you, I rely on TRAC for TIM (team information management) but I'm pretty manual when it comes to PIM.

Nishith,

Dec 11, 2008

@jasongoldberg One thing that perhaps I've learnt from you in this respect is finish/delegate the task that is on hand before moving to the next one.

Jasongoldberg,

Dec 11, 2008

@electronicsales spam socialmedian again and you're deleted.

Mott,

Dec 11, 2008

@jasongoldberg, @nishith I've never been able to successfully use PIMs either, I’ve ended up using a paper journal and my inbox. Recently I've found using BB messenger to myself keeps a good log when you’re on the move, a copy/paste of it to an email once in awhile helps too (too many emails to oneself tend to get lost in the noise).

Dannytatom,

Dec 13, 2008

@mott @jasongoldberg @nishith I've actually found the tasks feature pretty handy. I had tried RTM for a while, but it's a lot easier to manage a to-do list when it's built into my email.