Get your address book in order

Google's SMS chat application is fairly simple. From within Gtalk, one can send text messages to contacts, provided their numbers are added to the address book. 

One starts with a credit of 50 text messages, and with each 160-character message, one loses a credit. But the moment someone replies to one of these texts, five credits are added to the account, provided the credits don't go above 50. And one is credited with a single SMS credit within 24 hours if one runs out of credits. If you want to stop receiving texts from Gtalk, you can do that too.

When I first started using this service, I realised, to my chagrin, that my address book was one big disjointed document with duplicate and old entries. So, I got down to organising it, but I suspect those who use Android phones won't face such a problem. 

Getting down to business, this tool turned out a good way to send across greetings to near and dear ones, especially those who live abroad. I had a whale of a time 'chatting' with friends and relatives, though the app did warn me that those receiving the texts might be charged for those. Well, no one's blasted me yet, so I assume all went according to plan. 

SMS conversations appear as chat within Gtalk, and the USP of the service is those receiving the texts are charged local rates if they reply to them. A nifty tool if one wants to avoid expensive international messages. And, finding that text with your cousin's contact details your aunt sent you is just a search away.

While I'm having a lot of fun using the service, it’s not likely to replace the conventional SMS service for me. Why? Because I can send these messages on the move, directly from the home screen of my phone, and not worry about credits. You can never tell if that message has been delivered. But, I'm surely going to use Google's service to wish a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all my loved ones this time.