How to send SMS from an Outlook email address [step-by-step]

Sending a text message from your Outlook account can unify and simplify your communications. Whether you need to communicate with employees, send meeting reminders directly to your contacts phone numbers, or communicate with customers, you can start with Outlook to SMS.

Outlook to SMS is particularly valuable for businesses looking to communicate with employees who need to send timely updates directly to colleagues’ mobile devices.

While Outlook to SMS has many practical benefits for workplace communication, it also offers personal advantages. It allows users to archive text messages in their email inbox, reducing clutter on their phones, and provides the convenience of sending texts directly from a computer.

This is especially useful in situations where accessing a phone isn’t possible or when direct communication is necessary.

Read to learn how to send SMS from Outlook.

Disclaimer: Please note that this advice is for informational purposes only and is neither intended as nor should be substituted for consultation with appropriate legal counsel and/or your organization’s regulatory compliance team.

What is Outlook to SMS?

Outlook to SMS refers to the capability of Microsoft Outlook to send text messages (SMS) directly from within the application.

This feature allows users to compose and send SMS messages to mobile phone numbers from their Outlook email client, making it a convenient way to communicate with contacts who prefer or require text messaging.

It is often used in professional settings for quick and efficient communication with colleagues and clients.

How to send SMS from Outlook

Sending text messages directly from Microsoft Outlook is a convenient way to streamline your communications. By following these steps, you can ensure your messages reach their recipients efficiently:

1. Open Microsoft Outlook on your computer.
2. Click on “New Email” to create a new email message.
3. Type your message in the email body as you would for a regular email. It must be less than 160 characters to be SMS.
4. Locate your recipient’s phone number, determine their wireless carrier, and input that information into the “To” section (see steps below for details).
5. Optional: If you haven’t added your Sender number to Outlook, click on the “From” field and select “Other Email Address.” In the “From” field, enter your mobile phone number, and Outlook will prompt you to verify it. If you don’t want to send from your phone number, Outlook will simply deliver the SMS from your email address, which is why this step is optional.
6. Click “Send” to send the email, which will be converted into an SMS and delivered to the recipient’s mobile phone.
7. The recipient will receive your message as a standard text message on their phone.

The outline above is a basic overview of sending SMS messages through Outlook. For a more comprehensive understanding, let’s explore each step in greater detail to ensure you have all the information needed for effective and accurate SMS communications:

Step 1: Obtain recipient’s phone number

Ensure you have the recipient’s 10-digit phone number. This number is essential for directing the text message correctly.

Step 2: Determine the recipient’s carrier information

Next, determine the recipient’s wireless carrier. You can use a service like FreeCarrierLookup to find out the carrier associated with a given phone number.

Step 3: Choose between SMS or MMS

Figure out what type of message you’re sending. SMS messages are limited to 160 characters, while MMS messages can include more text and rich media like images or videos.

Step 4: Find carrier gateway email address

Based on whether you’re sending an SMS or MMS, find the appropriate carrier gateway email address.

Here is a list of many carriers’ SMS and MMS email gateways for SMS and MMS from SimpleTexting’s parent company, Sinch.

Additionally, here is a quick table of some of the most common carrier gateway email addresses:

Step 4: Create the phone number email address

Create the email address using the recipient’s 10-digit phone number and the gateway address.

For example, for a Verizon number, it would look like 1234567890@vtext.com to send an SMS.

Next, enter the phone number email address you created in the “To” field of a new Outlook email.

Step 5: Compose and send your message

Write your message in the body field of the email. If you prefer to avoid adding content to the subject line, you can leave it empty to prevent awkward formatting in the text message.

After that, you’re ready to finally hit send. Your message will be delivered to the recipient’s phone as a text message, appearing as sent from your Outlook email address.

A simpler way to send SMS from your business

If you just read all those steps, you might be wondering if there’s a better way to text people from your business.

There is.

SimpleTexting is business texting software. People use it for SMS marketing, communicating with team members, recruiting and hiring, customer service and sales use cases, and a whole lot more.

An actual business texting service makes sending a text to a single person a lot easier than all those steps with Outlook to SMS. Plus, a service like SimpleTexting helps you send group messages and mass texts much more efficiently.

With SimpleTexting, all you’ll need are the recipients’ phone numbers and their permission to text them.

That’s it.

No hoops to jump through to determine what phone numbers belong to what carriers, whether your message is SMS or MMS, what the carrier gateway addresses are for every recipient… etc.

See for yourself. Try SimpleTexting and send a text to yourself today to see how it works.

Why Choose SimpleTexting for text messaging instead of Outlook?

SimpleTexting offers an intuitive, feature-rich platform for sending SMS. Our service makes your communication smoother, more reliable, and more impactful. 

With advanced features and tools, our platform elevates your messaging experience, ensuring that your texts reach their destination and make the desired impact. 

Here’s a glimpse into the powerful features that set us apart:

• 24/7 Support: Our team is ready to help you seven days a week to reach your audiences.
  
• Automated SMS: Schedule messages hours, days, or months in advance then sit back, and relax. We’ll do the rest.
  
• SMS Templates & Duplicates: Save time by reusing your frequently sent messages, campaigns, inbox replies, autoresponders, and keyword confirmation messages.
  
• AI Assist: Streamline your messages with our SimpleTexting AI Assist, a powerful copywriting tool that helps you send more effective text messages.
  
• Self-Cleaning Lists: Our system automatically checks for dead numbers every time you send a message and removes them when they’re spotted. No need for you to constantly monitor!

Learn more about our capabilities to see how we can help you.

Get started with SimpleTexting today

SimpleTexting provides a seamless, effective, and innovative solution sending text messages from your business.

From small businesses looking to enhance their marketing strategies and larger enterprises aiming to improve internal communications to individuals seeking more efficient ways to connect, SimpleTexting caters to all your needs. 

With user-friendly features like 24/7 customer support, message scheduling, link tracking and shortening, and an API, SimpleTexting elevates your communication experience. Embrace the power of efficient texting and make every message count with SimpleTexting.

Ready to transform your communication strategy? Sign up today for a free trial and discover the full potential of SMS with SimpleTexting. Or, for a more personalized experience, book a call with our experts. We’re here to guide you every step of the way.