# How can i text from Canada to someone in the usa without a cell phone? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 24, 2013, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-text-from-canada-to-someone-in-the-usa-without-a-cell-phone/672126 "2013-10-24T16:44:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-text-from-canada-to-someone-in-the-usa-without-a-cell-phone/672126/21 "2013-10-25T15:03:38Z")
> [@Pauly01](#): > > I have an itouch. Can i text with google voice on itouch and make phone call with it? I only used google voice on itouch. [Here](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google-voice/id318698524) is the iTunes page for the Google Voice app, showing a button that says Text. And [here](http://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-iphone/) is the the Skype page for their iPhone/iPod Touch app, also showing the texting feature. If, as you said, you’re using Google Voice in the iPod Touch, how are you not seeing this? ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-text-from-canada-to-someone-in-the-usa-without-a-cell-phone/672126/22 "2013-10-25T15:55:54Z")
> [@listedmia](#): > > I use gmail chat for this sometimes. Just enter the person’s number instead of their email address in the chat box. (On my setup, it’s on the lower left of the screen) Apparently it doesn’t work for all providers, though. And they will get charged for receiving your texts. Second this, I use Gmail chat to send texts all the time. It even prompts you for “Search, chat, or SMS” in the box at the top of the chat. I assume it would work from Canada as well, shouldn’t be any geographic reason Google couldn’t deliver your text. As others have said, e-mail works too. You just have to know what cell provider the person has. For example, Verizon is **(phone number)@vtext.com**. This is an article about it: [How to Email Text Messages to Phone - Email to Text from Computer](http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/how-to/4318204) ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-text-from-canada-to-someone-in-the-usa-without-a-cell-phone/672126/23 "2013-10-25T17:33:38Z")
> [@Pauly01](#): > > Are you doing it with your phone or on your computer? Can you do this on your phone? > I have an itouch. Can i text with google voice on itouch and make phone call with it? I only used google voice on itouch. No, you can’t do anything with an [iTouch](http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-9670510403-iTouch-Keyboard/dp/B00004VUFB) unless you connect it to a PC. ---
**Author:** ![Pauly01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@Pauly01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pauly01)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-text-from-canada-to-someone-in-the-usa-without-a-cell-phone/672126/24 "2013-10-25T17:51:11Z")
> [@Blake](#): > > 😕 > > What am i missing? You clearly have access to Skype. Why don’t you just send him an SMS via Skype? You can send a text message via skype to his spring cell phone? I did not know this. The only thing i do with skype is do text message and video calling. I didnt know you could text message someone there. I know you can make phone calls but theres a charge for taht. ---
**Author:** ![Pauly01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@Pauly01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pauly01)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-text-from-canada-to-someone-in-the-usa-without-a-cell-phone/672126/25 "2013-10-25T17:52:29Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > [Here](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google-voice/id318698524) is the iTunes page for the Google Voice app, showing a button that says Text. And [here](http://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-iphone/) is the the Skype page for their iPhone/iPod Touch app, also showing the texting feature. If, as you said, you’re using Google Voice in the iPod Touch, how are you not seeing this? I cannot get google voice to work on my itouch. I use google voice on my laptop. I could not get it to work on my itouch. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-text-from-canada-to-someone-in-the-usa-without-a-cell-phone/672126/26 "2013-10-25T18:02:14Z")
> [@Pauly01](#): > > I have an itouch. Can i text with google voice on itouch and make phone call with it? I only used google voice on itouch. > [@Pauly01](#): > > I cannot get google voice to work on my itouch. I use google voice on my laptop. I could not get it to work on my itouch. Your statements are contradictory and very confusing. Also, just to be clear, by iTouch, do you mean an Apple iPod Touch? ---
**Author:** ![Pauly01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@Pauly01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pauly01)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-text-from-canada-to-someone-in-the-usa-without-a-cell-phone/672126/27 "2013-10-25T18:07:15Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > Second this, I use Gmail chat to send texts all the time. It even prompts you for “Search, chat, or SMS” in the box at the top of the chat. I assume it would work from Canada as well, shouldn’t be any geographic reason Google couldn’t deliver your text. > > As others have said, e-mail works too. You just have to know what cell provider the person has. For example, Verizon is **(phone number)@vtext.com**. This is an article about it: [How to Email Text Messages to Phone - Email to Text from Computer](http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/how-to/4318204) Does it cost to receive a text from someone? I use gmail and certainly would prefer this method as im familiar with gmail. I read that you sending a message wont cost anything but what about receiving it? Person uses sprint. ---
**Author:** ![Pauly01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@Pauly01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pauly01)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-text-from-canada-to-someone-in-the-usa-without-a-cell-phone/672126/28 "2013-10-25T18:16:10Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Your statements are contradictory and very confusing. Also, just to be clear, by iTouch, do you mean an Apple iPod Touch? Yes apple itouch. What other itouchs are there? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-text-from-canada-to-someone-in-the-usa-without-a-cell-phone/672126/29 "2013-10-25T18:24:53Z")
See **Doug K.**'s post above or the [Urban Dictionary entry](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=itouch) for itouch. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-text-from-canada-to-someone-in-the-usa-without-a-cell-phone/672126/30 "2013-10-25T20:30:52Z")
> [@Pauly01](#): > > Does it cost to receive a text from someone? I use gmail and certainly would prefer this method as im familiar with gmail. I read that you sending a message wont cost anything but what about receiving it? Person uses sprint. It doesn’t cost me anything, but I live in the USA. Worst case it won’t work and Google will say “pay us”, but it’s worth a shot. Just put their phone number in the chat box and send a message, and see if you get a reply without getting asked to pay. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-text-from-canada-to-someone-in-the-usa-without-a-cell-phone/672126/31 "2013-10-25T20:32:08Z")
> [@Pauly01](#): > > Are you doing it with your phone or on your computer? Can you do this on your phone? > I have an itouch. Can i text with google voice on itouch and make phone call with it? I only used google voice on itouch. Primarily on my PC, but sometimes also on my Android phone (that has the Google Voice app installed). Sorry, I have no experience with the Apple stuff, so I can’t say what you can or cannot do with it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-text-from-canada-to-someone-in-the-usa-without-a-cell-phone/672126.md?page=1)