Five SMS alternatives for smartphones-gctid45359

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Five SMS alternatives for smartphones | How To - CNET

By: Nicole Cozma    August 29, 2011 2:55 PM PDT

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Short messaging services (SMS) are very popular, but can end up  costing you a lot if you don't have an unlimited plan for your  smartphone. All the apps in this collection offer more features than  standard SMS clients, and can often be more fun to use. For instance,  some send pictures, show you when a message is read by the recipient, or  send videos and voice clips. There's even an app that lets people  without smartphones reply to you from a user-selected phone number.

 
(Credit: Nicole Cozma)

 Kik

 Kik is a simple yet functional messenger app. No other service can  match it for speed. Single-letter notifications on chat bubbles show you  when the message is being sent (S), is available on the recipient's  device (D, for delivered), and has been read (R). It's supported on  several platforms, making staying in touch with people who have  different phones and carriers easy. The only flaw is that while you can  enable or disable notifications of messages, you are unable to set a  custom notification tone for this app.

 
(Credit: Nicole Cozma)

 Google Voice

 Google Voice is an interesting choice compared with the other apps  shown here. It lacks many of the defining features of the others, such  as the capability to share pictures. However, it is powerful in its own  right. Google Voice can actually send and receive SMS messages via data  by assigning you a Google Voice phone number to use with the app. This  means you can use this service to stay in contact with friends who don't  have smartphones, without being charged for SMS. There is also a Web  management interface available, should you find yourself unable to use  your mobile device.

 
(Credit: Nicole Cozma)

 PingChat!

 PingChat! is packed with features. On top of the standard  picture-sharing option, this app allows you to easily share your  location and contacts with the people you're talking to. You can even  link your social media accounts to PingChat!, making it easy to find and  add your friends for group chats. One downside is that this app is  supported by ads, with no paid alternative. However, with all the  functions this messenger has, it's easy to forgive it.

 
(Credit: Nicole Cozma)

  LiveProfile

 LiveProfile's account system is great for people with multiple  devices. Being registered via e-mail rather than phone number means you  can switch devices often and quickly without worrying about losing  messages or contacts in the process. This service provides you with a  status message so you can let all your friends know your whereabouts or  activities with one click. This message can also be posted from the app  directly to your Twitter of Facebook account. The heavily beveled finish  on the app can be a positive or negative, depending on your style.

 
(Credit: Nicole Cozma)

 KakaoTalk

 KakaoTalk is a powerful alternative to SMS. Packed full of features  such as picture, video, and audio sharing, there isn't much you could  want out of a messenger app that KakaoTalk can't do. The app features  some customization options for those who like to personalize the way  their phone looks. For those who like to keep their messaging history  private, there's even an option to password lock your conversations.

 
SMS alternatives comparison table

 (Credit: Nicole Cozma)

 This table shows the supported platforms and features of the  SMS alternatives. Keep in mind that app creators may add or remove  features from their software, so it's always best to download the latest  version.

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