Image Credit: Tap Call

Norma writes, “How do you stop receiving an automated text message? When I got my new phone I started receiving messages from a store telling me about their specials. I’ve tried visiting the website and ‘unsubscribing’ but that didn’t work.”

We feel you, Norma. Like junk mail and spam email, unsolicited text messages are the bane of our existence. Luckily there are ways to stop them.

If you’re receiving texts from a reputable company, there should be a way to unsubscribe from them through a text. Scroll back through the text messages from that number, and you’ll probably find a message telling you to text the word “STOP,” “QUIT,” “END,” or “UNSUBSCRIBE” to stop receiving texts from them. Different companies use different keywords, but most of the time if you text the word “HELP” to them, they will tell you what other keywords work on their system.

If you’re receiving genuine spam texts from a less than reputable source, the best thing you can do is to not respond. This just lets the scammers know that your number is a good one to keep spamming. Your only choice is to block the number sending you those texts.

How to block numbers on iOS

• Open the offending text message
• Tap Details
• Tap the “i” button in the top right
• Tap “Block this Caller”

How to block numbers on Android

• Find the text message you want to block in the Message app
• Press and hold it until a pop up appears
• Tap the “Block it as spam” option

If you’re using a regular cell phone, you’ll have to block the texts through your carrier.

AT&T

• To report spam text messages on AT&T, forward the offending text message to 7726 (SPAM)
• You can also call their customer service at 1-800-331-0500 to report spam

Sprint

• Follow these directions on Sprint’s site to block numbers
• Or call customer service at 1-888-211-4727

Verizon

• Call 1-800-922-0204 to report the spam to customer service

T-Mobile

• Call customer service at 1-877-453-1304
• Or use their live chat to block the number

Image credit Google

Isabel writes, “I have an iPhone and an iPad. Is it possible to message or text someone who does not have an Apple product? And, if that?s too easy for you guys, how about this: is there any way to do it for free without a texting plan?”

It?s totally possible. The simplest way is if both you and the person you are trying to message are using a cross-platform messaging app (one that works on both Android and iOS). There are several apps that you can use to send short text messages over Wi-Fi like Kik, WhatsApp and even Facebook Messenger. The two major problems with all of them is that you can only send messages to people who are also on the same service, and you cannot use them to send regular old SMS text messages.

The best app that we have found that actually sends real text messages is Google Voice. With Google Voice, you can send text messages from the app on your iDevice or from the Google Voice website. It takes a little while to setup, but it?s completely free.

The main catch is that Google Voice gives you a new phone number for your Google Voice account for free. Once you pick it out, you can use that number to make phone calls, send text messages, and receive them too ? as long as you?re on Wi-Fi or cellular data. You can text anyone in the U.S. and Canada, and you can receive texts from anywhere in the world.

The simplest way to get started is to go to the Google voice website. Login with your Google email address if you have one, and then click ?Get a voice number? on the left and follow the instructions. When it asks you to ?add a forwarding phone? you will need to tell it the phone number of your existing cell phone. Google will actually make a robo-call to your phone and give you an activation code to verify that your number belongs to you. Once that is all set up, download the Google Voice app and start texting.

We should once again note that Google Voice is not a cellular service. If you don?t have an internet connect through Wi-Fi or a wireless provider you will not be able to use it.

This week on Deemable Tech Ray was joined by guest host Kenny Kwaak and by John Martinelli and Evan Diamond from Alert The Boss, a creation that is going to part of One Spark, a crowd funding festival happening in Jacksonville, Florida April 17-21, 2013. Be sure to come and visit Alert The Boss at 121 Atlantic Place and Deemable Tech at a Adecco Ignite during One Spark, and make sure to vote for Alert The Boss and Deemable Tech at One Spark!

After the break, Ray and Kenny answered one question that got skipped at the Live Event last week. Mike wants to know why he can’t hear the sound on the Citrix Online webinars that he attends. The guys tell him to fix the disease, not treat the symptoms.

All that and more, on this episode of Deemable Tech!

Make sure to subscribe to the show in iTunes by clicking here, or subscribe to the show in another podcast reader by clicking here. Also, make sure to leave us a review in iTunes. The more reviews we have the higher we’ll be listed in iTunes and the more listeners will see our show!

Download Episode 32 – Alert The Boss You Need to Disable Java Now!

Need tech help? Got a problem or tech question about your computer, phone or tablet? Give us a call and leave us a voice mail at 1-888-972-9868, or send us an email to questions at deemable dot com. We’ll answer them on the show.

Links mentioned on this week’s show:

• AlertTheBoss!
• Like AlertTheBoss on Facebook
• Gizmodo – How To Disable Java in Your Browser