Key Highlights
- Gmail offers a feature to send SMS to mobile phones through a gateway domain
- Users can send SMS to contacts without regular phone numbers or in different countries
- Email formatting and emojis cannot be used when sending SMS
Gmail offers a convenient feature that allows users to send SMS to mobile phones through a gateway domain. Here, we will help you learn how to send SMS from Gmail along with important information about SMS gateways and their limitations. Also Read | Running Low On Google Storage? Five Best Techniques To Clear Your Gmail Space
Sending SMS Via Gateway Domain In Gmail
Sending SMS through a gateway domain in Gmail enables users to send text messages to mobile phones associated with a specific email address. This feature proves beneficial for contacting individuals without regular phone numbers or those located in different countries.
SMS gateways serve as mediators between computers and telecommunications networks, allowing computers to send SMS messages. They convert messages from email clients, like Gmail, into a format that mobile networks can understand. The mobile network then forwards the message to the intended recipient.
How To Send SMS From Gmail
To use the SMS gateway feature in Gmail, users must be aware of the recipient’s email address, which typically consists of the phone number followed by the gateway domain of the mobile carrier. Information about gateway domains for various carriers can be found online or obtained by contacting the carriers directly. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to send SMS from Gmail:
Step 1: Open your Gmail account and click on “Compose” to create a new message.
Step 2: Enter the recipient’s phone number, followed by the “@” sign and their SMS gateway address, in the “To” field.
Step 3: Compose your message within the body of the email. Messages longer than 160 characters may be sent as multiple texts.
Step 4: Click “Send” to transmit your message as an SMS to the recipient’s phone.
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In addition to SMS messages, Gmail users can also send MMS messages, which include pictures, audio, and other non-text data. To send an MMS message, users need to use the MMS gateway address instead of the SMS gateway address.
Limitations Of SMS/MMS Gateway Usage
While sending texts from Gmail through SMS/MMS gateways is a convenient feature, it comes with certain limitations, including:
- Prior knowledge of the recipient’s SMS/MMS gateway address is necessary, and some mobile networks may not provide one
- Email formatting and emojis cannot be used when sending texts through an SMS gateway from Gmail
- Only plain text can be sent via an SMS gateway, and not all mobile carriers support MMS gateways for sending multimedia content.
By following the step-by-step guide provided in this article, Gmail users can easily send SMS messages to mobile phones using the SMS gateway feature. Despite some limitations, this feature proves valuable for communicating with contacts who do not possess regular phone numbers or are located in different regions.
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