If you can email from your phone you can send a test message to another phone without any further charges. I did not wish to pay for texting capabilites because I was getting to many unsoliceted messages that I had to pay for. So now, on my android, I just send an e-mail to someones phone text address and they can answer to my mail. Saves money on my bill. I never could understand getting paid twice for just one message. Once to send it and once on the other end to recieve it. I only want to pay for the ones I send. Can read a book on my phone I just download it before I go into the woods. These *********** are a great accessory if used to your benefit and not the company's benefit. Happy hunting.