The days when SMS was associated with the younger generation are long gone, with text messaging now being a part of daily life for people of all ages and backgrounds - from friends arranging their next meeting to business people keeping up with the latest developments. Many of us depend on the quick and easy option of SMS over more expensive and time-consuming phone calls. While many phone tariffs offer a number of free text messages as part of their bundle, the quantity can sometimes not be enough for heavy texters - and if you're on pay-as-you-go, the price of keeping in touch with friends and relatives could be costing you a small fortune. If you do feel that your contract doesn't offer the best value in terms of the number of free SMS messages each month, it could be time to investigate other options. That's why more people are turning to online SMS as a way to keep sending those all-important texts without breaking the bank. Using online messaging services, you can type your message using the computer keypad - which has the benefit of being less fiddly than your phone handset - and send the message to a contact's phone number just the same as you would a regular SMS. As well as saving you money, this can save you considerable time typing characters and symbols compared to using a regular phone. Alternatively, if you prefer the option of texting on the go, you can send the message using your phone, if you have the online SMS software installed on your handset. Just as you need to compare rates for other aspects of your phone service, you should also shop around to find the best rates for online SMS - which can vary considerably when texting numbers abroad in particular. Some numbers may be free to text online, including picture and video messages up to a certain file size, but others will typically cost far less than SMS delivered through your usual provider. When you use a reliable provider, your online SMS can be delivered just as quickly as a standard message would, meaning you won't have to put up with delays. Your message recipient will also not notice the difference between SMS delivered online or via a mobile phone, as the formatting will appear the same regardless. When you weigh up all these advantages, heading online to send SMS messages makes practical and economic sense.