| In the United States we are accustomed to | | | | technology of the mobile phone (GSM or CDMA). |
| paying for every text message we receive or | | | | Recently, the Oi cell phone company revolutionized |
| send. In other countries, text messaging is usually | | | | free SMS service and introduced a web service |
| referred to as SMS. These fees are typically | | | | to send free text messages to any mobile phone |
| limited as cell phone companies in the US offer | | | | in Brazil. This web service is called Oi Torpedo. Oi |
| options for free minutes. Other countries, | | | | allows this Oi Torpedo service to be available on |
| however, do not have that luxury and have to | | | | most third-party websites. You can be anywhere |
| pay enormous fees just to send and receive text | | | | in the world from the United States to China and |
| messages or SMS. For those residing in Brazil and | | | | can use this service as long as you have access |
| using a Brazil based cell phone company or for | | | | to the Internet. It is fast and reliable. Besides |
| people sending text and SMS messages to people | | | | being able to reach colleagues, friends, and family, |
| in Brazil, their fees can become extremely high. | | | | this service opens up new opportunities for small |
| As of recently Brazil's most popular cell phone | | | | businesses. Small businesses can now reach out to |
| carrier, Mundo Oi, has introduced Oi Torpedos to | | | | their customer base and send out advertisements |
| provide free SMS service for those who carry | | | | without worrying about the costs. |
| their plan and send text messages or SMS | | | | Starting to use this free service is extremely |
| messages to Brazilians with this cell phone service. | | | | easy. You must first go to the OI website or to a |
| Mundo Oi is a large and significantly influential | | | | third-party site providing this service and enter |
| wireless communications company with millions of | | | | the name of your mobile carrier. You then fill in |
| customers in Brazil. They previously charged a fee | | | | the phone number starting with the area code |
| to their customers for each text message sent | | | | (known as DDD number in Brazil) and the phone |
| or received; needless to say the service was not | | | | number each in its own box. Now you have 121 |
| used very often. Oi began offering 50 free text | | | | characters to express what is on your mind. |
| messages within the Oi network to their | | | | Finally, you have to type in the conformation |
| customers. It is now possible to send free text | | | | letters (CAPTCHA) before sending your text |
| messages among various networks including Oi, | | | | message. It is that easy! |
| Nextel, Claro, and Vivo regardless of the | | | | |