Re:What problem? What PROBLEM? (Score 1)

1) SMS because it came with my phone, and it's what a lot of people use. Honestly this is probably the most ubiquitous and useful, except that it's kind of bound to my phone.

Sign up for Google Voice and give out that number to friends and family. You can keep it forever, assuming Google doesn't shut it down (recently updated after years of not being touched, so it should be safe), and text from any device. Solves both problems: you retain the ability to use a universal platform without being tied to a terrible service provider.