Here’s how I got free text-messaging with push notifications on the iPad.
Step 1 – get Google Voice
Chances are you already have this. If you don’t, you’re missing out on a neat service (nevermind the incredible amount of power you’re giving to Google). You can sign up for an account here.
Step 2 – forward you Google Voice text messages to your email
Now you need to go into Google Voice and forward your text messages to an email address. This is under Settings -> Voice Settings -> Voicemail and Text. Check the box next to “Forward text messages to my email: xxxxxxx@gmail.com “. Now any texts you get to your Google Voice number will get sent to your email address. Handy!
Step 3 – Download Boxcar for your iPad
Boxcar is an app that lets you create custom push notifications for various services like email, Twitter and Facebook. The app is free for your first type of push notification, which works great for us, since we’re going to select email and that’s pretty powerful. Download Boxcar and add a new service. Select the “Email Account” service and give it a name. Once this is set up, it’ll show your “Forwarding Address”. When you forward any email to this address, Boxcar on the iPad will pop up a notification.
Step 4 – Setup an email forward filter in Gmail.
In your gmail account (the one that Google Voice is forwarding texts to), go to Settings -> Forwarding and POP/IMAP. Click the “Add a forwarding address” button and put in the Boxcar email address you got in step 3. You’ll need to verify the address. At this point Boxcar should pop up a push notification with your confirmation code. Type this into the verification box in Gmail and hit ok.
Now, go to Settings -> Filters in Gmail and hit “Create new Filter”. In the filter Subject line, put “SMS from”. Hit “Next step”. Check the box next to “Forward it to:” and select the Boxcar email address. Now hit “Create filter”.
Step 5 – Profit!
You should be all set up. Go to Google Voice and send yourself a text message. It should 1) show up in your gmail and 2) pop up a push notification on your iPad. Awesome!
PS. With a service like pu.ly or similar, you can now get push notifications for Twitter @replys and DMs too! Just forward the emails you want push notifications for to your Boxcar email address.