Handcent SMS

by Antonio Wells Dec 2, 2009 9:51 AM – 166 Comments

Install

Handcent 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

AndroidTapp.com Android App Review:

Pros & Cons:

Pros

Enhanced text messaging capabilities
SMS Popup
MMS
Text Signature
T9
Better than default Messaging app

Cons

Some slight quirks here and there… i.e. say you’ve deleted or read a text from one person, when using the “popup” feature and another person sends a text the previously read/deleted persons’ message pops back up.

Features:

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)!

: Handcent SMS Popup

: Handcent SMS T9 Text Messaging

: Handcent SMS Speech-to-Text

: Handcent SMS Landscape Texting

: Handcent SMS iPhone Style

: Handcent SMS Android Style

: Handcent SMS Handcent Style

: Handcent SMS Handcent Classic Style

: Handcent SMS Batch Mode Main

: Handcent SMS Batch Mode Conversation

: Handcent SMS Threads

: Handcent SMS Search

: Handcent SMS Blacklist Main

: Handcent SMS Overview Conversation

: Handcent SMS Save MMS Conversation

: Handcent SMS Font Pack 1

: Handcent SMS Font Pack 2

: Handcent SMS Font Pack 3

: Handcent SMS Font Pack 4

: Handcent SMS Text Signature

: Handcent SMS Personalization Settings

: Handcent SMS Personalization Settings 2

: Handcent SMS Settings Menu

Usefulness:

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.

Android Advice™: How to Remove Duplicate Notifications when HandCent SMS is Installed

Go the Settings » Managing Applications » browse for Messaging » Uncheck Default settings.

When you send a new text message, check the “Use by default for this action” checkbox option then choose Handcent SMS.

Ease of Use:

Important! If used be sure to disable default Messaging apps’ notifications as to not receive duplicate notifications.

Frequently Used:

If used, every time you send/receive a text message.

Interface:

The user interface is slick especially the iPhone theme.

AndroidTapp.com Rating

AndroidTapp.com Rating! (4.6 out of 5)

Should you Download Handcent SMS? Yes! Awesome SMS Text Messaging App for Android… Must Have!

Developer: Handcent

Tags: Android Apps, AndroidTapp.com App Review, Handcent SMS, MMS, Picture Messages, SMS, SMS Popup, SMS Text Messages, Speech to Text, T9, Text Signature

Categorised in: Communication

166 Comments

By thacounty on December 2, 2009 at 3:14 pm:

This is a great app, but it doesn’t do animated gif’s if it had that ability it would be tops!!

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By chr on December 7, 2009 at 2:13 pm:

if I didn’t add a txt plan to my verizon account, will handcent allow me to send sms for free?

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By dave on December 7, 2009 at 7:59 pm:

will I get a tone of sms ads after installing? is that how they make $?

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- By Android Tapp on December 7, 2009 at 8:28 pm:
  
  Nope, no ads
  
  Reply
By wish on December 9, 2009 at 7:42 pm:

how do u set handcent sms as the default text message for the motorola cliq?

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- By Android Tapp on December 9, 2009 at 8:09 pm:
  
  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
  
  Reply
  - By welshchick28 on March 4, 2011 at 7:20 am:
    
    Ive just downloaded the handcent SMS to my LG Optimus GT540 and i wanted to know how do you stop the main messages thing on my phone cause i the messages goes 2 the handcent and the phone messages? Ive tried the settings- manage applicatons – message but it says there are no defaults?? What do i do now?? Please help me Thanx
    
    Reply
By DistantMile on December 13, 2009 at 12:31 pm:

How come my signature runs togethor with my text message. Can someone Help please> i have a samsung moment.

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- By Cynt on February 18, 2010 at 10:31 pm:
  
  Just press enter a bunch of times well two or three before you enter the signature
  
  Reply
By souljourney on December 14, 2009 at 2:36 pm:

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.

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By JohnP007 on December 14, 2009 at 4:25 pm:

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

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- By Android Tapp on December 15, 2009 at 7:13 am:
  
  On the text message bubble you would like it to read, Longpress it and there should be an option to “Speak Text”.
  
  Reply
  - By anthony on December 19, 2009 at 9:00 am:
    
    I can’t get speach-to-text either only text-to-speach, can anyone help. Love the program though
    
    Reply
    - By anthony on December 19, 2009 at 9:03 am:
      
      Sorry, text-to-speak
      
      Reply
      - By Android Tapp on December 19, 2009 at 10:38 am:
        
        Have you tried Longpressing the the message you want spoken, then choosing “Speak Text” option?
By rhardy on December 15, 2009 at 4:07 am:

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.

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- By Android Tapp on December 15, 2009 at 7:33 am:
  
  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
  
  Reply
  - By Patrick on February 3, 2010 at 9:27 am:
    
    When I receive an SMS it still comes through the default Messaging app and Handcent. How do I turn off the default Messaging app?
    
    Reply
    - By The Hammer on February 15, 2010 at 9:07 pm:
      
      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).
      
      Reply
By Shaina on January 11, 2010 at 6:39 pm:

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

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- By Android Tapp on January 29, 2010 at 7:33 pm:
  
  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
  
  Reply
By archboy on January 17, 2010 at 8:03 pm:

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!?!

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By Dan on January 23, 2010 at 1:12 pm:

It is amazing I would suggest it every day of the week and twice on Sunday.
Chomp has nothing on Handcent

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By sherry on January 29, 2010 at 7:15 pm:

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?

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- By Android Tapp on January 29, 2010 at 7:29 pm:
  
  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.
  
  Reply
  - By sherry on January 30, 2010 at 9:28 am:
    
    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
    
    Reply
By Dee on February 2, 2010 at 7:16 pm:

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!!

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By Erik on February 4, 2010 at 12:03 pm:

Is there anyway to make the default messaging icon launch handcent?

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By nicerod77 on February 8, 2010 at 10:03 am:

How do I get the buttons to continue to flash when I get a missed call or text.

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By yoshi on February 11, 2010 at 2:32 pm:

if i get this app for my droid phone through verizon wireless, will i have to pay for text messaging?

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- By Android Tapp on February 11, 2010 at 9:16 pm:
  
  No, Handcent SMS won’t charge you. It’s just another app for sending text messages.
  
  Reply
By anissa on February 19, 2010 at 9:46 pm:

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??

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By ben on February 23, 2010 at 1:25 pm:

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?

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By nisha on March 2, 2010 at 2:42 pm:

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!

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- By Android Tapp on March 2, 2010 at 5:35 pm:
  
  Open the default Messaging app, press Menu button, then Settings, uncheck Notifications box.
  
  Reply
  - By CarpeNoctem on March 7, 2010 at 10:28 pm:
    
    I am having the same problem as Samsung does not allow you to discontinue the default notification for text messages.
    
    Reply
    - By Android Tapp on March 8, 2010 at 6:43 am:
      
      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”.
      
      Reply
      - By Chucky on November 4, 2010 at 6:27 pm:
        
        wat about for the samsung behold 2
      - By Jason Norment on November 4, 2010 at 6:57 pm:
        
        It should be the same for every device.
      - By Chucky on November 4, 2010 at 9:17 pm:
        
        but samsung behold do not hav a notifications tab under the default texting system
      - By ashleigh on November 28, 2010 at 1:52 am:
        
        i have the samsung behold II & as others have already posted, i cannot get the default sms to stop the notifications and there is not a “notifications” selection in the messaging settings… PLEASE, HELP!!!
By Sharie on March 12, 2010 at 4:25 pm:

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

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- By Android Tapp on March 13, 2010 at 11:18 am:
  
  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.
  
  Reply
By influenceuk on April 6, 2010 at 6:30 am:

If i wanted a Messaging app that looks like the iPhone’s i would have gone with an iPhone again!

Come where’s the originality from developers now?!

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By Str187 on April 9, 2010 at 2:11 am:

worst messaging app ever. it forecloses constantly. chomp sms is much better.

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By Kenji O. on April 9, 2010 at 11:04 am:

Really nice review. Thanks for posting!

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By freyr on April 10, 2010 at 8:08 am:

On my Milestone, if I send a message with this, I don’t get any delivery report (with the built in app there is no problem), and the view of my messages restored from backup isn’t threated (the built in app’s view is also good).

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By S Maxwell on April 24, 2010 at 3:38 am:

I just downloaded handcent app for my HTC Hero and i can’t change my default how do i change that…..

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- By Android Tapp on April 24, 2010 at 8:43 am:
  
  Go to Settings Menu, Applications, find Messaging app, uncheck “Defaults”.
  
  Go to Contacts and select a name to send a text, it should ask you which text program to use, Check the box below the applications first then check Handcent… this should make out your default text app.
  
  Let us know if that helps.
  
  Reply
  - By Bryan on April 26, 2010 at 8:01 am:
    
    I just downloaded the handcent app on my HTC Hero and now i have double notifications. I tried to disable the defalt setting under notifications than messages but the folder says “no default selected.” I also selected handscent as my default sms when sending a message but i still get double notification!! PLEASE HELP
    
    Reply
    - By Android Tapp on April 26, 2010 at 9:00 am:
      
      In your “Messaging” app, in Settings under “Notification Settings”… is “Notifications” checked?
      
      Reply
      - By Bryan on April 26, 2010 at 12:21 pm:
        
        No.
        
        And there is no “settings” option in the default “messages” app
        
        When i go to Settings->Applications->Manage Applications->Messages there is “no defaults set”
      - By Android Tapp on April 26, 2010 at 12:31 pm:
        
        Dont take that route. Open default Messaging app where you would see your list of text messages, press Menu button then Settings, scroll down to Notification settings
      - By bebop3301@yahoo.com on June 3, 2010 at 10:44 am:
        
        So if I understand…set notifications for Handcent SMS and turn off notifications for the HTC messaging app. Then why under manage applications/Handcent SMS is there nothing listed under “Launch by Default”. Better yet what does Launch by Default mean and how would one set that up?
By Ken on May 20, 2010 at 9:35 pm:

Can some one please tell me how to forward a text?

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- By Android Tapp on May 21, 2010 at 11:10 am:
  
  Longpress (hold for 2 or more seconds) the message text you to forward then choose Forward message from the menu options.
  
  Reply
By gwen on May 23, 2010 at 8:24 pm:

does this samsung behold 2 have a multitap function? i cant stand predictive text takes too long because it predicts wrong. how do I enable multitap and lock it in so that I do not have to enable it every time I need to send a text?

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- By Android Tapp on May 24, 2010 at 7:24 am:
  
  Unfortunately it does not. It typically comes with the Android 2.1 update 1 and the Behold 2 is still on 1.5. You will have to wait for T-Mobile to update the phones software to this to enable the feature by default.
  
  Reply
By Sadie on June 1, 2010 at 4:58 am:

How do I make it so that this is my main messaging tool and when I get a text only the hancent notification goes off???

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By bebop3301@yahoo.com on June 2, 2010 at 3:29 pm:

I have an Eris Droid and would like to make Handcent SMS my default messaging app but even reading this thread I’m still not sure just how to accomplish this. Seems that there are about three different explanations but I’d like to see just one detailed explanation. TIA

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By nolachick on June 9, 2010 at 7:16 pm:

Maybe I didn’t understand how handcent works (I have the EVO). I got the impression that when I receive a text, it will automatically pop up on my home screen. This is not happening. When I hear the notification sound, I have to open handcent to see it. Then, although I’ve checked “iphone” style, it appears in a list. Once I click on the message in the list, THEN it’s displayed in the iphone format.

I have already set handcent to be the default messaging app.

What am I doing wrong??? It’s driving me crazy!

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By Clarissa on June 11, 2010 at 6:40 pm:

Two questions. If I install this app on the Motorola Cliq, will it delete all of my chat conversations that I already have on the default messaging application or will it continue the current chat thread with individual contacts? Also, when I receive a new text, will the app notify me with a vibration, a glowing light in the top right corner (not on the actual touch screen), along with the pop-up on the home screen like the current messaging app does?

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- By Antonio Wells on June 12, 2010 at 10:20 am:
  
  Handcent will use the same text messaging database as the default one so you won’t lose messages. You many receive duplication notification unless you go into the Settings menu of the default app and disable those.
  
  Not quite sure what you mean by your second question, can you clarify?
  
  Reply
By jessica on June 13, 2010 at 10:13 am:

how do i disable my default message on the LG Ally?

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By maria on June 15, 2010 at 11:40 am:

i have the lg ally i need help figuring out to how use the t9 texting feature…please help

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By christine on June 17, 2010 at 5:32 pm:

when i first downloaded this app to my samsung moment, i LOVED it! it worked exactly like i wanted to. i had it for about 3 days then all of a sudden it just started to FC everytime i try to go in it and it would freeze as soon as i do get it open. and i havent changed anything. is this just a bug?? they really need to fix this cause i really do like this app.

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By Lee on June 23, 2010 at 12:37 pm:

Great for a mess around, just winding my mate up, he’ll probably try and deck me lol! will tell him later but for now i’m having fun.

Can be found on Android Market; http://www.android.com/market/#app=com.handcent.nextsms, via PC web browser or easily from your Android Phone, barcode doesn’t work as previously said. so just get a wifi connection and drop on to the market and click on the search icon top right of the screen and type: handcents, go for the free version if your gonna play a few jokes, the paid for doesn’t seem to offer much more that I can see other than the ability to password the app, but if you’re security aware its probably worth buying.

great app, loads of fun, can lose you friends and family lol! think before you send

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By George on June 23, 2010 at 4:23 pm:

I have an issue with the MMS feature on my HTC Incredible. Everytime I txt a certain someone there numbers appear as XXX-XXX-XXXX@vtext.com. I can get it to send as SMS when I select the name from my contact list and then hit ‘Send Message’ but when I exit out and go back in, the name changes to the numbers again. Please help…this annoys them cuz its sending it like an email and I can’t get the confirmations!!!

Also, everytime I try to change the background to an image the app crashes. This only happens on this particular contact.

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- By George on June 24, 2010 at 11:28 am:
  
  I resolved the issue by resetting my phone to factory defaults. Everything is working correctly now
  
  Reply
By Ryan Terry on June 29, 2010 at 9:18 am:

I really wish the text spacing in this app was more polished… All of the text is jammed to the left in both the Android and bubble chat format, and while this could be a go-to messaging app, I prefer chompSMS. In any case, I’ll keep it installed and hope for the day when the Dev reads my suggestion email and takes it to heart. It wouldn’t take much to simply evenly distribute the text and gaps.

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By Michael on June 30, 2010 at 11:10 am:

Animated GIFs don’t animate or send…and even with static bitmap images, my MMS won’t send.

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By clair on July 2, 2010 at 4:41 pm:

how do i download this app and does it cost?

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- By Antonio Wells on July 2, 2010 at 4:49 pm:
  
  The app is free. There are a few ways to download it. Simply search “Handcent” in the Android Market on your Android phone. If you’re viewing this page on your phone, click the QR bar code which will open the app in the Android Market, or using a bar code scanner app on your computer you can scan the QR barcode on your monitor to open the app in the Android Market.
  
  Reply
By Glenn on July 4, 2010 at 10:21 am:

Been using this app for about 6 months and only have one problem, when I don’t delete my threads, it stops sending text messages if I have around 1000 messages saved up. Don’t know if this is an android problem or a handcent problem. I’ve never used the default messaging app very much since handcent is so much better to configure. My favorite feature is the tab to see the list addresses you’ve recently sent texts to.

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By Matt on July 14, 2010 at 9:10 pm:

I downloaded Handcent SMS and it works great but i wanted to no how or if u can make this the default SMS and have the regular notification for SMS not to show only the handcents.

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By rockypaul on July 28, 2010 at 4:07 am:

I have a HTC Desire, have installed Handcent SMS, but cant stop the handsets default settings blocking me using it, can you please tell me how to stop the HTC Desires default setting so the the Handcent SMS is the only one that works please..?

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- By rockypaul on August 3, 2010 at 11:22 am:
  
  Hi I have a HTC Desire, have installed Handcent SMS, the phone has just updated to 2.2 and again I cant stop the handsets default settings blocking me using it, can you please REMIND ME AGAIN how to stop the HTC Desires default setting so the the Handcent SMS is the only one that works please..?
  
  Reply
By Mary on July 29, 2010 at 12:47 am:

I love this app my only problem is how do I stop the quick reply from popping up , sometimes I do not want the world to see who is texting me. also is there a way to hide a text or thread without deleting.

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- By Antonio Wells on July 29, 2010 at 7:27 am:
  
  To disable that Handcent popup feature, open the Handcent app » tap Menu button » then “Settings” » uncheck “Enable Popup”.
  
  Handcent can’t hide a specific text thread but there are apps out there that can allow password protection of the entire text messaging application altogether.
  
  Reply
By BossLady88 on July 29, 2010 at 1:21 am:

Will I still receive my messages through handcent if my phone is turned off?

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- By Antonio Wells on July 29, 2010 at 7:18 am:
  
  Just like any text message program or any phone for that matter, if the phone is turned off and a text is received, soon as you turn it back on you’ll get all your text messages sent during the down time.
  
  Reply
By ellen on July 30, 2010 at 12:23 am:

i downloaded this app for the motorola backflip.
how do i get it to stay as my default??

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- By Antonio Wells on July 30, 2010 at 9:04 am:
  
  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
  
  Reply
By DaShaun on August 2, 2010 at 9:51 pm:

I have the Samsung Intercept and I downloaded handcent sms and it works fine except for the notifications. I mean it vibrates just fine its just no LED light.Does the Intercept even have a LED light or did I do something wrong?

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By rockypaul on August 3, 2010 at 11:29 am:

the phone has just updated to 2.2 and again I cant stop the handsets default settings blocking me using it, can you please REMIND ME AGAIN how to stop the HTC Desires default setting so the the Handcent SMS is the only one that works please..?

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By Kris on August 19, 2010 at 10:28 am:

When I downloaded Handcent sms for the Motorola Android or Droid my old messaging system still makes my notification sound and pops up. How do you get rid of it?

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- By Jason Norment on August 20, 2010 at 1:15 am:
  
  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
  
  Reply
By nicole gilbert on August 21, 2010 at 1:41 pm:

I downloaded handcent sms and my messages keep bouncing back to me as an error. How do I fix it

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By esb on August 21, 2010 at 7:16 pm:

On the Samsung Galaxy, the message icon at the bottom of the main screen launches the default messaging app. Is there a way to make this shortcut launch handcent?

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