I have a blackberry curve with ATT and send a lot of text messages overseas (Ireland mostly) - at 25 cents a pop it can get a bit expensive.

I dont expect to send texts for free, but I wouldnt mind paying for a cheaper service or software (in the region of 10-15 cents?). What do other blackberry users use as SMS alternatives?

Sending emails to cellphones isnt a viable option as a lot of my contacts in Ireland dont have an equivalent email address for their cellphone like ATT have (e.g. ).

I figured that there is IM or VOIP software out there that could do this but there are just so many of them and I otherwise wouldnt use IM - just looking for a simple sms alternative.

Any ideas?

Your best bet would be to get a multi-client IM package. I would strongly recommend Jivetalk. It covers all the major IM clients that your friends might have.

Good Luck!

E-

I installed Jivetalk this afternoon but I dont think it will handle sending text messages to Ireland. From what I read on their FAQs, you can send an SMS message to an IM contact if you have their mobile number added, but AIM only allows you to do it to US cellphones, and Yahoo to a select group of countries that doesnt include Ireland.

None of my Irish contacts use IM and have basic cellphones.

Any other ideas?

They'd need to use whatever alternative approach you would be using on your end. You can't just swap out SMS service. If they can IM or switch to a BB that would be a couple of possible solutions.

They don't have IM clients on their phones? Years ago I had a basic Nokia phone that at least had some sort of AIM client on it.

Why not get an unlimited SMS package from AT&T? I've got the Blackberry Personal Bundle ($30/month) plus the Unlimited Messaging Package ($20/month).

ATT charges a premium for International SMS usage. Their unlimited package does not include premium messages.

D'oh!