Google voice texting not free?

slomo

I use google for all my texts.   I just received my first bill and it shows me as using 19 texts on a per use charge.  A lot of these texts look like they are both to/from my own number.  Is there any way to avoid these charges and have a truly free texting plan?  PS I am really only concerned with the ability to do so from my droid, not my PC.  Thanks

slomo

I think I see what I was doing wrong.  I found this answer on a droid message board:

 

In Google Voice on a PC (web browser) goto Settings - Phones, Then Edit on your phone number..

Turn off
Receive SMS on this phone.

Now Google Voice will not forward it's SMS messages to Verizon as an SMS..

Use the Google Voice App (there are some drawbacks)

------
Drawbacks being GV App only checks at intervals you choose and will receive the SMS at those intervals.. A workaround would be to have it forward the SMS messages to your GMail (which is push), and having a GMail Alert Sound.

Send SMS with the App or with a received SMS you can use the app OR email to respond.