Philippines Telecoms 4G Web 2.0 Shortcode SMS MMS WAP Mobile Technology: January 2009

I'm bored! So I'm going to show you a hack on how to send SMS (and soon MMS too) for FREE* and piss off the telcos :D

This hack is based on exploiting the current business models of telcos here in the Philippines (that is my night work; I hack not just servers and codes but also find exploits on business models). This is not new, its been possible since 6 years ago and the telcos didn't want you to know about it.

So don't worry, this hack is valid and will not put you at any risk. There is however a cons to this, only the first 3 160-character message is free, there is a P2.50 charge on the 4th message but the next 3 message will be free again. Somehow it works like this:

1st 160 character message - free
2nd 160 character message - free
3rd 160 character message - free
4th 160 character message - P2.50 charge
5th 160 character message - free
6th 160 character message - free
and so on...

You may also need to check if there is any additional cost on the recipient but in US its mostly bundled already with their service plan.

Now I know you are eager now to start so here goes (you bastards :D), just follow these steps (UPDATED on 02/04/09):

First you must know what is the carrier of your friend at US (check the long list below).
Create an email filtering and forwarding scheme using your email provider, you can use free email provider such as GMail:

(View Full Size Video)
Compose an SMS message "M2M <your@email.com> <to-mobile-number> <your message>".
Send it 2948
If your US friend replies you will get a message from 2948XXXXXXXX (12-digit: access number + post-fix alias)
Save this number, this is the permanent number you can use to send him/her an SMS for free by just sending "<to-mobile-number> <message>". Note the M2M and is no longer needed when using this alias.
You have to repeat these steps for every new number you wish to send to.

*START RANT*

Telcos has caught-up to the previous trick on sending directly using the <US-mobile-number>@<provider gateway> by restricting the format, but sorry telcos -- my hack will still work simply because you are ignorant about how technology works... So you better send packing who told you otherwise -- just kidding, its good for us you keep them :))

Anyway, you are still stuck on the stone-age by thinking that you can still control the technology in the industry for profit and by doing so; restricts our right to fair use and right to communicate (a major violation of our right to free speech and expression!).

*END RANT*

Now check out the list below on how to find the <gateway> per telco worldwide. Take note that MMS doesn't work yet and <to-mobile-number> is usually the 10-digit number unless specified in the list below.

Finally the message might arrive a bit slower because carriers outside US impose a QOS for non-local inbound messages.

That's it, Kung Hei Fat Choi!! Going to sleep now :D

List of Carrier Gateways

7-11 Speakout (USA GSM): <number>@cingularme.com
Airtel (Andhra Pradesh, India): <number>@airtelap.com
Airtel (Karnataka, India): <number>@airtelkk.com
Airtel Wireless (Montana, USA): <number>@sms.airtelmontana.com
Alaska Communications Systems" <number>@msg.acsalaska.com
Alltel Wireless: <number>@message.alltel.com
aql: <number>@text.aql.com
AT&T Wireless: <number>@txt.att.net
AT&T: <number>@mmode.com
(formerly AT&T, then Cingular, now AT&T Wireless - Original grandfathered rateplan customers)
AT&T Mobility: <number>@mms.att.net / <number>@txt.att.net / <number>@cingularme.com
(formerly Cingular)
AT&T Enterprise Paging: <number>@page.att.net
BigRedGiant Mobile Solutions: <number>@tachyonsms.co.uk
Bell Mobility & Solo Mobile (Canada): <number>@txt.bell.ca / <number>@txt.bellmobility.ca
Boost Mobile: <number>@myboostmobile.com
BPL Mobile (Mumbai, India): <number>@bplmobile.com
Cellular One (Dobson): <number>@mobile.celloneusa.com
Cingular (Postpaid): <number>@cingularme.com
Centennial Wireless: <number>@cwemail.com
Cingular (GoPhone prepaid): <number>@cingularme.com (SMS)
Claro (Brasil): <number>@clarotorpedo.com.br
Claro (Nicaragua): <number>@ideasclaro-ca.com
Comcel: <number>@comcel.com.co
Cricket: <number>@mms.mycricket.com (MMS) / <number>@sms.mycricket.com (SMS)
CTI: <number>@sms.ctimovil.com.ar
Emtel (Mauritius): <number>@emtelworld.net
Esendex: <number>@esendex.net
Fido(Canada): <number>@fido.ca
General Communications Inc: <number>@msg.gci.net
Globalstar (satellite): <number>@msg.globalstarusa.com
Helio: <number>@myhelio.com
Illinois Valley Cellular: <number>@ivctext.com
Iridium (satellite): <number>@msg.iridium.com
i wireless: <number>.iws@iwspcs.net
Koodo Mobile (Canada): <number>@msg.koodomobile.com
Meteor (Ireland): <number>@sms.mymeteor.ie
Mero Mobile (Nepal): 977<number>@sms.spicenepal.com
MetroPCS: <number>@mymetropcs.com
Movicom: <number>@movimensaje.com.ar
Mobitel (Sri Lanka): <number>@sms.mobitel.lk
Movistar (Colombia): <number>@movistar.com.co
MTN (South Africa): <number>@sms.co.za
MTS (Canada): <number>@text.mtsmobility.com
Nextel (United States): <number>@messaging.nextel.com
Nextel (México): <number>@msgnextel.com.mx
Nextel (Argentina): TwoWay.11<number>@nextel.net.ar
Personal (Argentina): <number>@alertas.personal.com.ar (call for activation)
Plateau Wireless (United States): 11digit<number>@smsx.plateaugsm.com
Plus GSM (Poland): +48<number>@text.plusgsm.pl
President's Choice (Canada): <number>@mobiletxt.ca
Qwest: <number>@qwestmp.com
Rogers (Canada): <number>@pcs.rogers.com
SL Interactive (Australia): <number>@slinteractive.com.au
Sasktel (Canada): <number>@sms.sasktel.com
Setar Mobile email (Aruba): 297+<number>@mas.aw
Sprint (PCS): <number>@messaging.sprintpcs.com (SMS) / <number>@pm.sprint.com (MMS)
Sprint (Nextel): <number>@page.nextel.com (SMS) / <number>@messaging.nextel.com (MMS)
Suncom: <number>@tms.suncom.com
Sunrise (Switzerland): <number>@gsm.sunrise.ch
T-Mobile: <number>@tmomail.net
T-Mobile (Austria): <number>@sms.t-mobile.at
T-Mobile (UK): <number>@t-mobile.uk.net
Telus Mobility (Canada): <number>@msg.telus.com
Thumb Cellular: <number>@sms.thumbcellular.com
Tigo (Formerly Ola): <number>@sms.tigo.com.co
Tracfone (prepaid - direct): <number>@mmst5.tracfone.com
Tracfone (prepaid - indirect): <number>@cingularme.com / <number>@tmomail.net / <number>@vtext.com / <number>@email.uscc.net / <number>@message.alltel.com
Unicel: <number>@utext.com
US Cellular: <number>@email.uscc.net (SMS) / <number>@mms.uscc.net (MMS)
Verizon: <number>@vtext.com (SMS) / <number>@vzwpix.com (MMS)
Vivo (Brasil): <number>@torpedoemail.com.br
Virgin Mobile (Canada): <number>@vmobile.ca
Virgin Mobile (USA): <number>@vmobl.com
Vodacom(South Africa): <number>@voda.co.za
YCC: <number>@sms.ycc.ru
MobiPCS (Hawaii only): <number>@mobipcs.net