Looking for recommendations on how to SMS from a computer, á la Pushbullet or some such. Currently using Google Messages with companion desktop/web app and love the experience, but am on a de-Googling quest and looking for alternatives.
Prefer FOSS options (love the Fossify stuff, for example) but an willing to pay a slight premium if required. Would like solution to be compatible with any web browser and Windows but Linux (Mint) would work, too.
Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks in advance!
You might want to look into KDE connect. I don’t use it myself, but it might be what you’re looking for.
Yes, but be aware that it only works when both devices are in the same LAN.
So it’s totally useless as a communication tool
How so? I don’t think that is referring to an SMS recipient, just the sender’s computer and phone each running Connect need to be on the same network.
Does it really need to be said that OP is probably trying to retain the ability to send messages outside of his own network?
It can do that. It’s just that the computer and the device sending the messages need to be on the same network. Not the device receiving the messages.
Ahhh okay okay, maybe I misunderstood. I was under the impression that it could only send messages between devices on the same LAN.
It’s not the best integration though. Usually when someone sends a message I get a notification to ‘Mark as read’ or ‘Reply’.
The first reply I send is seemless. But it doesn’t start a messaging window or anything like that. If that same person sends a follow up message shortly after then the notification doesn’t really work the same way again, or at all. I forget.
Perhaps I’m meant to be running the SMS applicstion all the time, which is a seperate widget or something and part of kdeconnect. I usually don’t run this and I think it was because I ran into other issues with it (I think it tries to sync all your phone messages so perhaps if you have a GB or two of messages it struggles).
What I might do is keep it running today while working and see if that makes the integration work better, allow me to send messages from the computer on the fly etc.
I don’t mind of both devices have to be on the same network. I tried KDE and it just didn’t work the same way I was hoping. Will give it another shake.
I mean, perfect solution would be something like Google Voice where I could use it from any device with an internet connection, regardless of whether there a carrier device that’s even on.
Twilio may be an option (and I have enough programming chops to make my own interface), just want attracted to the (reasonable) cost.