The functionality that enables sending an email message to a recipient’s cellular phone as a text message is achieved through specific gateway addresses provided by mobile carriers. T-Mobile, for example, utilizes the `tmomail.net` domain for this purpose. By addressing an email to the recipient’s ten-digit phone number followed by `@tmomail.net` (e.g., 1234567890@tmomail.net), the message is delivered as an SMS or MMS text to their device.
This capability offers a convenient method for sending short messages to mobile phones, particularly when access to a phone is limited or when needing to send a message to multiple recipients quickly. Historically, it provided a bridge between internet-based communication and traditional cellular networks, allowing users to leverage email infrastructure for text-based messaging. Benefits include the ability to send messages from a computer, potentially avoiding per-message charges associated with standard SMS plans, and ease of distribution to larger groups.
