Tracfone and SMS Email Gateway
It took a little doing…this is not a normal topic I would post here, but the information seems so useful that I decided to go ahead. I’m not a cell phone user. In fact, I don’t really like them…if i’m at my desk or at home and my phone rings, i’ll answer it. If i’m at a movie, out to dinner or some other family outing, i don’t really want people to be able to call me. I know that i’m not the majority. Regardless, there are different technical notifications such as website service outages, etc that I would benefit greatly from getting a notification to my cell phone. For this reason, I purchased a Tracfone with 2 years of activation in advance so that I don’t pay monthly bills, no “use it or lose it” minutes, no reactivation fees, etc.
Some of you might say “I told you…” ut it turns out, the email gateway was not so straightforward…I simply wanted to send myself text messages using the ##########@messaging.tracefone.com or something similar.
You see, Tracfone outsources it network to other national providers. I don’t know the details and after some research, I found a complicated method to determine which provider and thereby which email gateway to use. After following the steps, i determined that that I was on Metro PCS. This was incorrect information. Evidently the database that was used was out of date or maybe never up to date in the first place. It just didn’t work…
But, by this time I had all the formats for the major providers and it occurred to me that there was an easier way. Ready…? Wait for it…
1) send an email to the following addresses:
3215551234@vmobl.com
3215551234@mmode.com
3215551234@tmomail.net
3215551234@myboostmobile.com
3215551234@messaging.sprintpcs.com
3215551234@messaging.nextel.com
3215551234@mymetropcs.com
3215551234@cingularme.com
3215551234@message.alltel.com
3215551234@questmp.com
Note: of course, the above telephone number is not a valid #
2) wait for a message on your Tracfone and when you receive it, send a reply. When you get the reply at the email address you sent the original message to…you know your provider and your email format!
Yes, I know…it seems obvious to me now, but it wasn’t at all obvious before I did it…I spent maybe 2 hours (15 minutes here, 10 minutes there) trying to figure this out on the assumption that it had to be there.
Hope this helps someone else! If it does, post a comment and let me know…thanks!
CHRIS E
Does anyone know have to email a person with a Tracefone in Miami, FL ???
Todd S
Thanks! @txt.att.net works in SW OH.
STeve
Thank you! @txt.att.net works in central Texas!
T
@cingularme.com work in central PA
Nancy M
@txt.att.net works in NE Ohio
Chris
Todd S,
You saved my life! @txt.att.net it is!!!!
rhonda
that is beautiful! Thank you for the useful info. Greetings from Pittsburgh.
Tobin
that’s so VERY VERY helpful thank you!!!
MikeC
Thanks
@txt.att.net
worked for me
North Texas
Molly R
Thanks very much. That was a very easy way to figure this important enigma.
@txt.att.net in northeastern MN
Jacob Davis
I have a txt.att.net mail address.
Bruce L.
Excellent! Thanks for publishing this information!! Used @txt.att.net in 61443 area – Just SE of Moline IL
Pat M
@txt.att.net worked for me, too, in Texas. Probably just depends on which network your phone is on. GSM phones are on ATT network.
larry
works in alaska
David
Helped out a bunch. Simple, easy solution. @messaging.sprintpcs.com NW Ohio
james
@txt.att.net works in southeast AZ
zed
txt.att.net on Los Angeles, Ca
Katatawnic
I’m in So. CA; San Bernardino County. “@txt.att.net” worked for me without a hitch! I can now text my hubby via email until I get my VERY OLD & NOW DEAD phone replaced. YAY! Thank you so much for these instructions, so greatly appreciated!
Terry
Thanks.
@txt.att.net works for area code 62401 in central IL.
frank vest
cant contact trac phone by email