Text Messaging

I'm curious, since I never had a mobile device that used text messaging...I keep seeing ads for various charities asking for donations, and they say text "Haiti for xxxxx". How does one do that, when he only has email?

You can send an SMS message to a cell phone via email. Most cell phone providers have a special email address or domain that you can send a message to. This then gets forwarded as a text message to the cell phone. E.g. with Verizon in the U.S. (IIRC), you can email ##########@vtext.com, where "##########" has to be replaced with the 10 digit cellular number, and that message will get sent as a text message to that phone. Other carriers also probably have some equivalent.

So you can't text on the phone at all or is there a charge per text or something? Usually when you text for a donation that donation amount is charged to your cell phone carrier bill. I don't know how it would work via email. If you want to donate I would find a reputable web site and just use a credit card.

It seems odd that they don't use a more conventional method. Currently, I do not have a cell phone at all...I have no need for one. I might use a credit card, but I prefer to use PayPal for such things. I know that PayPal has provisions for donations, but that require an email address of the person to be paid.

Usually your Cell provider has a place on their website that you can send text messages from.