User Rating4.48/5Handcent SMS is a free SMS tools for android, it full unleash the power of your phone: Full support SMS & MMS, great customize options, different style and power function (search sms, sms popup, speak sms & T9). Full support MMS on Droid and add “Split 160″ function, visit http://news.handcent.com for other release notes.
Price: Free
Pros
Cons
Handcent SMS Android App offers enhanced text messaging capabilities. Send & receive texts from full app or popup interface (similar to SMS Popup), send & save MMS contents (Picture Messages), T9 style keyboard, add your text signature, search texts, change the theme, font packs or background, Android notifications, ringtones and vibration patterns, even cooler… speak your text or have them read back to you!
This app has come a long way and much better than my initial look at it… of course back then Android didn’t have an on-screen keyboard so you had to combine chompSMS and SMS Popup to get some of Handcent SMS features. We get a lot of emails asking “How to do text signatures?” on Android and this app solves that. Batch mode is very useful to scroll through and check a list or Group of contacts when sending bulk messages (like for a party invite). They put the icing on the cake by utilizing text-to-speech and speech-to-text (something I personally like when too busy to type out a long text message… just speak it)!
Text messaging is one of the most used features of a cell phone besides making calls, this app can be used to replace the default Messaging app.
Important! If used be sure to disable default Messaging apps’ notifications as to not receive duplicate notifications.
If used, every time you send/receive a text message.
The user interface is slick especially the iPhone theme.
(4.6 out of 5)
Should you Download Handcent SMS? Yes! Awesome SMS Text Messaging App for Android… Must Have!
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This is a great app, but it doesn’t do animated gif’s if it had that ability it would be tops!!
if I didn’t add a txt plan to my verizon account, will handcent allow me to send sms for free?
will I get a tone of sms ads after installing? is that how they make $?
Nope, no ads
how do u set handcent sms as the default text message for the motorola cliq?
You may have to remove the setting that sets your default Messaging app to only be used.
Go the Settings > Managing Applications > browse for Messaging > Uncheck Default settings.
When you send a new SMS text, check the Default settings option then choose Handcent SMS
How come my signature runs togethor with my text message. Can someone Help please> i have a samsung moment.
Just press enter a bunch of times well two or three before you enter the signature
Will the T9 keyboard do multi-tap or is it only predictive. I always want to turn the predictive off.
I will only get an android phone if I can do this.
How can I get the Speach to work? I have read that this program can read out your text’s but I can’t figure out how to get it to work. I have the Moto Droid?
Thanks
On the text message bubble you would like it to read, Longpress it and there should be an option to “Speak Text”.
I can’t get speach-to-text either only text-to-speach, can anyone help. Love the program though
Sorry, text-to-speak
Have you tried Longpressing the the message you want spoken, then choosing “Speak Text” option?
I’ve downloaded handcent sms and now i want to use it as my default messaging app. how do i set it as my default so i dont get duplicate alerts like i’m getting now on my Motorola droid.
Go the Settings > Managing Applications > browse for Messaging > Uncheck Default settings.
When you send a new SMS text, check the Default settings option then choose Handcent SMS
When I receive an SMS it still comes through the default Messaging app and Handcent. How do I turn off the default Messaging app?
launch the default messaging app, go into settings and uncheck the ‘notifications’ box. This will eliminate the double alert you are getting (at least it did on my Nexus one).
I downloaded Handcent, but I do not know how to get to T9, which is the primary reason I downloaded it. Can anyone help me with this?
Thanks
How to use T9 & handcent keyboard
Handcent Keyboard is IME(input method) application that supports predictive text (T9 input),you can install it from market and use it with handcent sms
Handcent Keyboard can be enabled by (“System settings”->”Local & text”->”Handcent keyboard”), check this option to enable Handcent keyboard
http://www.handcent.com/Faq.php#TAG_USEKB
One of the best sms, mms app for the android. I think it is more polished and the choices for customization is much better than chomp. It is my default sms app. Could use the default but why!?!
It is amazing I would suggest it every day of the week and twice on Sunday.
Chomp has nothing on Handcent
i downloaded this app for my moto droid, but i cant seem to figure out all the features. how do i put a signature on my text messages? can someone give me the steps in how to do that? also, how do i put the various styles on there, like the android style and the iphone style?
Tap Menu button to go to Settings, check “Enable signature”, tap “Personal signature” to write your sig, send a text… it’ll be attached.
Change the “Skin” for iPhone style.
it doesnt have an enable signature icon
it has things such as delivery reports, read reports, auto recieve, and the notifications is unchecked, and the stuff below it is sort of blacked out where u cant click on it
I just dl this app. So far its great. I love all the options and customization you can do. Much better then the qpp that comes on the phone. Recommended!!
Is there anyway to make the default messaging icon launch handcent?
How do I get the buttons to continue to flash when I get a missed call or text.
if i get this app for my droid phone through verizon wireless, will i have to pay for text messaging?
No, Handcent SMS won’t charge you. It’s just another app for sending text messages.
i just downloaded this to my samsung behold II and i love it but i cant get my contacts from my phone to this app how do i do that??
I have samsung moment, and I have tried to do what the FAQ says and long press the ?123 to get to the keyboard options, and change the input to handcent. but its not there, even after installing handcent twice. am i missing anything?
I have the Behold 2 and i cant seem to discontinue the double notifications im getting from both hancent and the default messaging! Any suggestions or does any1 know how i can stop this madness? Plz help cuz im seriously considering dropping the app n jus using the default messaging. Thanx!
Open the default Messaging app, press Menu button, then Settings, uncheck Notifications box.
I am having the same problem as Samsung does not allow you to discontinue the default notification for text messages.
If you’re referring to Samsung Moment… you can disable the default notifications. Open the default Messaging app, tap Menu then go to Settings, uncheck “Notifications”.
I have the droid I added handcent but I am still getting duplicate messages when I go into settings and apps and then manage apps and i click on handcent it says no default set please help me this double notification is annoying
When you want to send a text to someone, are you being asked with app to send it with? If so, at that point you should check the box then select Handcent.
To get rid of default notifications, open that app, go to Settings, uncheck Notifications.