SMS Techie query

[Rock Charogne]

Silly question - can I text a message to a non-uk cellphone ? (have in mind one in the US) TIA

Rock

[diplodocus]

I've had texts from Singapore before so I think it would be ok

[rrankin]

In theory yes, in practice it depends.

[myson]

Yes, it should be possible.
I've exchanged texts with a UK mobile phone (with international "roaming" activated) and taken to Spain.

[Lizard]

As far as I know, as long as you have set that function up with your sevice provider, no problem, I regulararly text non UK phone numbers, and recieve as well..

[Rock Charogne]

Thanks guys - of course I omitted the obvious - try it and see what hapens!!

Rock

[eduardo]

I don't think that you have to have international roaming activated as I don't and I have sent and received texts from all over Europe whilst on my hols.

I think international roaming is more for if you make or receive calls on a contract phone as if you make or receive a call then you have to pay about ?1.50 a minute for the privilige of doing so. Basically your mobile phone company checks you out or approves you so as they are confident that you will have the ability to pay as the bills can get very high.

Thats my interpration anyway.

[rrankin]

International Roaming is for when you are overseas, and some companies will bar roaming from all / some countries by default, and will often require a direct debit mandate to be signed.

This is because it can take a long time for roaming calls to be charged. Virgin for example allows all users to roam in some countries, but other countries you have to be on direct debit.


However some mobile phone companies will automatically bar the use of International calls (ie from UK to overseas), and this may or may not include SMS.



Also, in the USA and other countries analogue phones are still popular, and so on a different standard to us (we use GSM). This makes me a bit sceptical about saying all mobile phones can receive an SMS from the UK.


Also if you go overseas don't forget to check before going which freq bands they use. Many UK mobile phones are dual-band and will not work in the USA/Canada where you would need a tri-band phone.

[MisterC]

I used a tri-band mobile late last year in Mexico and it worked fine for both 'local' calls and to and from the UK. The only thing that didn't work was texts to and from Mexican numbers - different technical standards the same as the USA I believe.

[mynah]

Hi,

AFAIK (As far as I know) it works worldwide assuming SMS is supported by the receiving phone and the network local to the receiving phone.

There are two things to remember
1. If you are texting a non-uk registered phone the cost to you will be higher - so check or you could have a nasty surprise.

2. If you are texting a uk registered phone which is not in the uk i.e. is roaming you will pay normal uk rate. The receiving phone will have to pay a fee too for receiving - unlike the uk. I'm not sure if for some networks / contracts/ payg schemes this has to be enabled or if indeed the user can disable/block to avoid unwanted charges from 'spam' marketing sms messages.

Cheers.