I'm not kidding.  Even better - these text messages can often get through when the phone lines are jammed up (something we saw happen immediately after the 9-11 terrorist attacks).  You can send a short message (150 characters maximum) to any cell phone in the U.S. by sending that message from your computer or PDA to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it (the x’s represent the cell phone’s area code and phone number, without the “1” and without any dashes).  While this works on most cellular carriers, if you find it doesn’t, and if you know the cell phone carrier you’re trying to send a message to, here are the exact email addresses you can use to send computer-to-cell phone emails:
AT&T This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cingular This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Nextel This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Sprint This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
T-Mobile This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Verizon Wireless 10-digit phone This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Virgin Mobile This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .