Send a Photo To a Friend Using SMS from iPhone?

Note: This is a work-around posted in August 2008. Work-around is still valid. However, please also see a more recent post here that describes a few more options - Forsyth.

Well, sort of. "No" from the SMS app, but "Yes" from the Photo app.

We know there is no support currently for attaching a photo an SMS message via the SMS app on iPhone. But you can send a photo via SMS through the Photo app. Here's how.

As we know, you can email a photo from your iPhone in just a couple touches. (Pull the photo up, press the icon at the button with an arrow in it, press "Email...") All cellphones have an associated email address that can be used to send a SMS message via email. So what you can do is email the photo to a friend to their mobile SMS email address. Tried it out today with a friend (thanks Eric!) and it worked great. He was AT&T Cingular and we used @txt.att.net.

In addition, if you add that email address to the entry for your friend in your contact database you can of course look it up by name when the Photo app takes you to compose an email.

Below is a list of carriers I found that seems fairly accurate. If one doesn't work for you, check with your carrier:

T-Mobile
Format: 10-digit cell phone number @ tmomail.net
Example: 3335551111@tmomail.net

Verizon Wireless
Format: 10-digit cell phone number @ vtext.com
Example: 3335551111@vtext.com

Rogers Wireless
Format: 10-digit cell phone number @ pcs.rogers.com
Example: 3335551111@pcs.rogers.com

Sprint PCS
Format: 10-digit cell phone number @ messaging.sprintpcs.com
Example: 3335551111@messaging.sprintpcs.com

Cingular Wireless
Format: 1 + 10-digit cell phone number @ cingularme.com
Example: 13335551111@cingularme.com

AT&T PCS
Format: 10-digit cell phone number @ mobile.att.net
Example: 3335551111@mobile.att.net

Bell Atlantic
Format: 10-digit cell phone number @ message.bam.com
Example: 3335551111@message.bam.com

Bell Mobility (Canada)
Format: 10-digit cell phone number @ txt.bell.ca
Example: 3335551111@txt.bell.ca

Cellular One
Format: 10-digit cell phone number @ mobile.celloneusa.com
Example: 3335551111@mobile.celloneusa.com

Comcast
Format: 10-digit cell phone number @ comcastpcs.textmsg.com
Example: 3335551111@comcastpcs.textmsg.com

Fido
Format: 10-digit cell phone number @ fido.ca
Example: 3335551111@fido.ca

Telus
Format: 10-digit cell phone number @ msg.telus.com
Example: 3335551111@msg.telus.com

If one of these doesn't work for you check with your carrier (and add a comment below!)

-Forsyth