text messages are a quick and simple way to send short messages to anyone that has a cell phone capable of receiving them this is an alternative to email which is typically used for longer messages or messages with many recipients to send a text message you'll need to launch your text message app from the Home tab tap the text messages app once you've opened the app you'll see your text messages inbox tap compose at the top of the screen in the inter recipient field you can enter a ten digit phone number or you can begin typing a name which will automatically display a list of matches from your all people list tap the name you'd like to add to the recipient list you can also tap the contacts button below the inter recipient field to check any of the names from your all people list or tap the logs button to select a recipient from your call history list once you've entered a recipient or entered a 10 digit phone number tap the enter message field to begin composing a text message when you're finished composing your message tap the send button a conversation thread between you and the recipient is created you'll see the message you sent in blue with the timestamp below if the recipient responds their message will show below yours in yellow on the left side of the message thread when you receive an incoming text message you'll see a text message icon on the status notification bar and badge on the text message app on the home screen and that's how to send and receive a text message on your Jitterbug touch check out our other how-to videos and click subscribe to see more videos from great call what would you like to learn next tell us in the comments below you