What is text messaging and how do I use it?

Sending text messages

1. From your mobile phone’s Main Menu, choose Send Message in the Messaging category.
2. Select Text and enter the phone number or email address you’d like to send a message to.
3. Type your message and press Send.

For specific instructions for your mobile phone or smartphone, visit the phones and accessories page and select your phone model to consult your user guide.

Group messaging

Group messaging allows you to send and receive text, picture and video messages between multiple contacts in a group using multimedia messaging (MMS). You need to enable group messaging in your device settings to use it.

Enabling group messaging on your device

Group messaging is automatically enabled by default on Apple devices. The steps to enable group messaging on other devices vary by manufacturer and model.

Note: If someone receives a group message but does not have group messaging enabled, their reply will only be sent to the original sender, not the whole group.

Requirements

• A device with Apple iOS 13.3 and above or Android 9.0 and above
• An eligible data plan

Pricing

• Text, picture and video messages sent and received in a group chat will be charged as a multimedia message (MMS) which will be applied against your rate plan

Texting outside the Bell Mobility network

You can send text messages to non-Bell Mobility customers in Canada and in more than 175 other nations around the world exactly the same way you’d send text messages to Bell Mobility customers.

Other ways to text

You can send text messages to an email address or landline phone.

Text to Landline messaging

Send a text message from your Bell mobile phone to any landline phone in Canada or the U.S. Text messages are converted into voice messages, so friends or family members who don't have a mobile phone can listen on a landline. (English and French supported.)

More about Text to Landline messaging.

Text via email

Send a text message from your email account to any Bell mobile phone.

All Bell mobile phones have a unique email address: (10-digit mobile phone number)@txt.bell.ca. For example, 4165555555@txt.bell.ca.

Enter this address in the To field and enter your message in the email body.

Email via text

Send an email using text messaging on your Bell mobile phone.

1. Type 6245 in the To line.
2. In the body of the text message, type the email address followed by a space and then type your message.
3. When you are done, press Send.

Text from the Web

As of March 21, 2024, texting from the web is no longer available.

Rates

You can use text messaging on a pay-per-use basis or subscribe to a text messaging add-on.

Canadian text messaging is included in many of our current rate plans. For older plans, separate charges may apply.

There are separate charges for international text messaging and for text messaging while roaming.

See our add-ons for international text messaging from Canada.

Learn more about travel and roaming.

Short codes

A short code is a 4 to 9-digit number, just like a phone number, which a company uses to send or receive text messages.

When you sign up for a short code program, you'll receive related text messages on your mobile phone.

There are two types of short code programs:

1. Standard programs (such as Facebook® and Twitter) - Messages sent to and received from standard programs will come out of allotted messages in your rate plan or bundle. Otherwise, standard messaging rates apply.
2. Interactive text alerts (also known as premium programs).

For more information about a short code program, send a text message with the word HELP to the short code.
You should receive a text message with information such as:

• Program description
• Costs (if applicable)
• Message frequency

Short code programs can be stopped by replying to a message with the word STOP.

Long codes

A long code is a 10-digit number, just like a phone number, which a company uses to send or receive text messages.

In order for you to send and receive messages with that company, you’ll need to opt in by consenting to receive communication from that company.

Once you sign up for a company-specific long code program, you'll receive their related text messages on your mobile phone.

Types of long code programs:

• Standard programs – Messages sent to and received from standard programs will come out of allotted messages in your rate plan or bundle. Otherwise, standard messaging rates apply.

Long code programs can be stopped by replying to a message with the word STOP.

Premium messages

Interactive text alerts

Interactive text alerts (also known as premium message programs) are third-party alerts or content, or messages interacting with contests and promotions, that require an additional fee in order to subscribe and/or participate.

There are two ways to subscribe to a premium message program:

• Send a text message to a short code.
• Enter a promoted PIN code online.

By subscribing to a premium message program, you are agreeing to the terms of the service, including any fees.

Once subscribed, you will be billed at a premium rate outside of your text messaging bundle, either as a one-time fee or a recurring charge depending on the program.

Premium message programs can be stopped by replying to a message with the word STOP. For more information about a program, send a text message with the word HELP to the short code.

If you have unwanted charges for services that you did not sign up for or if you have questions about your bill, visit MyBell for details about your account and the services used on your phone.

Character limitations

Text messages can be up to 1000 characters in length depending on the type of device you’re using. The receiver of the message will get multiple messages of up to 160 characters in length.

Error codes

Error code 96: Check to be sure that you're sending the text message to a 10-digit number or short code.

Error code 97: Check to be sure that you have funds in your account. Find out how to top up your prepaid mobile account.

Error code 98: This error occurs when the user you’re sending a text message to has a prepaid account but doesn’t have enough funds to accept the message.