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 Evidently the database that was used was out of date or maybe never up to date in the first place.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!
UPDATED: I just found a great site for saving money on your next Tracfone — This Tracfone Promo Codes site has every available deal along with other helpful how-to info like how to use bonus codes. Thought it might help some of you save a bit!
DougW
Mobile, AL uses @txt.att.net – Thanks!!
sun
Whitewater wi 53190 uses; @txt.att.net
Robb
DFW (817) uses txt.att.net
Michele
None of those above work for me and I have a tracfone in Palm Bay, Florida. I tried everything…not one text comes thru.
Rach
mine worked on xxx-xxx-xxxx@message.alltel.
mike
My tracfone Motorola uses PHONE#@mmst5.tracfone.com
Beaugrand
Just send an email from the phone to your regular email. The “from” information in the email is your phone’s email address.
Mike C.
mine worked via phone#@tmomail.net
The reply phone email address phone#@mmst5.tracfone.com won’t work.
But I am okay with the phone#@tmomail.net address.
Thanks,
Brian H.
I did something similar to a client whose carrier was unknown to me, but I wanted to send, urgently, a text to. I knew his # so just sent an email to all the “hisnumber@carrier.com” codes that I knew. He did get one of them.
The D4rKNeSs
Works for me in central MI @txt.att.net
Ricard
The fact that Tracfone outsources it network is probably why I always have reception. From what I read, they use the Verizon network heavily, which is, hands down, the best provider here in Michigan and in the midwest in general. I had Sprint for a while and HATED it. I needed cheap and switched to Tracfone since it doesn’t require a contract and the reviews were all really good for the most part.
Larisa
Wonderful! I used the suggested servers and ended up with a reply from @txt.att.net (not one of the ones listed). Now I can text my cell from my pc, but can’t text my pc from my cell (other than by replying). Any ideas?
John
This worked for my phone in Wisconsin. @txt.att.net is all good on my end! Thanks for the tips!
Zach
I tried them all attempting to send an email sms to a safelink phone. As far as i know tracfone does safelink wireless…
jelly
or how can i add free minutes to my tracfone i m desprete and broke
James
Thanks a million, the phone#@txt.att.net works!!!
Gretchen
Would someone help me, please?! I would like to send txts FROM my Tracfone (Samsung SGH-T301G) TO people’s emails. When I try, I am asked to “Enter Email Gateway” and can enter only numbers–I do not know what to enter there.
Now, after searching for 3 1/2 hrs. on numerous sites, I found the following info: in “Messages”, #9 is “Messaging Settings”, in that, #1 is “Text Message” and, in that, #1 under “Send Settings”, there is a spot to enter the “Email Gateway”; where on earth do I find that?
samuraiowl
south eastern nc is 10digit#@cingularme.com
Carl
Way to go! Thanks for this wonderful tutorial, and for pulling together all of the various service providers’ proper mail server information. It is much appreciated. Even though I too am a txt.att.net, I was still emailed successfully (one of the other services must forward to txt.att.net). Again, Thanks!
Jim
Thanks it worked for me as well. I also appreciate the info.
milocs
for puerto rico tracfone uses Claropr
number@vtexto.com
milocs
for puerto rico tracfone uses Claropr
number@vtexto.com
Mike
Simply send a message to your email address from your tracfone (ie enter your email address instead of a phone numeber) when sending sms. When you open the email the return address is there, ie the carrier!
griz
If Tracfone’s local carrier is Verizon (as it is here in Missoula, MT), the email domain is vtext.com.
kimmie
Chicago…..mmst5.tracfone.com
Davinken
Mine from Houston (area code 281) worked with NUMBER@tmomail.net – although currently I’m in College Station (some 80 miles North from Houston) which may mean the use a different carrier…
Thanks for the hint ! I wondered if that small thingie could do that.
Tracfone so far good – have had it for 4 years, rarely drops calls, has worked everywhere.
Chris
tracfone Dallas = @txt.att.net
Thanks for the site, great info!
Kym
Thanks this was so helpful!!
FL Steve
Works like a champ North FLA = PH#@txt.att.net – I’m sending camera motion detection messages to my tracphone from home security camera software – not getting viewable pic attachment but I do get the motion detection notice – Just tune in to view on the web if I’m at computer / work
Karl
Tracfone replied from xxxxxxxxxx@txt.att.net. Thanks for the info!
pa Sean
the answer is the number 500 or the number 121 for the email gateway.
send a message to yourself at yahoo or whereever you have a email account…in the gateway area enter the number 500 OR the number 121 if it doesn’t work then use the other number….it should work for you then…
Carol Ann
Anyone know what it is in Maine? I use gmail, and I can’t seem to be able to send myself an email from my phone when I access the gmail area.
Alice
Tried calling Tracfone to find this out for my fone. The Girl had no ideal what I was talking about and I tried to explain it to her like 5 different ways, I read the definition straight from wikki..I explained to her what I neede to do. but “I don’t understand”….It was faster for me to go through this list then it was to explain it to her.
Joe Diamond
1-757-256-XXXX@mmst5.tracfone.com works for me in eastern Virginia….
mark
##########@txt.att.net LG 420 TracFone Boston, MA USA
Ian
My York, PA phone is ##########@txt.att.net
Karen
thanks for the tip. the one for me was @txt.att.net
also, with my i wireless, the directions said to use plain text email only. so I did. possibly try that people, who couldn’t get any to work.
Vince magruder
anyone know what method would work in the Miami, Florida area?
Bob
I sent the text message to myself here in Cincinnati and the txt.att.net came up as the service. I wasn’t asked about a Gateway number
Bo
@txt.att.net for western PA
SceneMarine
Wow, I just send a text to my gmail account… Messages> new> recipient> XXXXXX@gmail.com > message you wish to send.< Then look into your email and you will see it. Forget all the multiple texting…
Katie
Does anyone know what it would be for the 407 area code in Orlando, Florida?
Jon R.
My Tracfone in Kansas City, MO uses @cingularme.com which I knew at one time but had forgotten. Thanks for the useful table!
Nad
Thanks for this! uses 804*******.txt.att.net
jen
Why not just send an email to yourself from your phone? When u get the email, read the header and see what address it came from. That way you don’t have to do the trial and error with a ton of different carriers…
Eab
I used @cingularme.com near Charlotte, NC. Your list was easy and quick to use. Thanks.
PAUL T.
Pensacola, FL here. T-Mobile NUMBER@tmomail.net works for me. My Work-At-Home job didn’t have the tracfone option to select from for notification of bonus hours so i just tried a few and the T-Mobile one worked.
Scott
In Houston (281) @txt.att.net worked for my Tracfone.
CHRIS E
anyone know what method would work in the Miami, Florida area?
Les
Easiest way is to send a text from your phone to your email. Then you get the address to send it to.