I don’t like to send many text messages on my cell phone. I do it on occasion, but I don’t like the small keyboard and would rather just call and talk to someone than text them. My wife on the other hand likes to text and sends me lots of messages throughout the day.

A program called Cherple launched in January 2009 and now has 10 million users around the world. The website allows users to send SMS text messages from any Internet connected computer to any U.S. cellular number for free directly from a computer.

Tax time is no fun at all. There’s all the paperwork and about a hundred other complications. It isn’t that way in Sweden. To file taxes in Sweden all you have to do is open a new text message, enter your Social Security number and a security code sent to you by mail, and zip it off to the Department of the Treasury.

This is how many Swedish people will file their income taxes in May. They’ve used this system for the last five years. But there’s a catch.

Most people either find wind chimes charming or annoying. You either love them or you hate them. Well, I’m not sure if this update to the classic noisemaker makes things better or worse. Korean designer Lufdesign has a new spin on chimes. The concept is called Tinkling, not to be confused with your favorite bathroom pastime. No, this tinkling is different. The chimes aren’t set off by the wind, but when you receive a digital message via email, voicemail or SMS. It’s blowing tail will change color and a message is displayed across the embedded screen.

Obviously, they would need to be wireless for this to work and you would place this inside as opposed to outside. Or both. Why not annoy the birds every time you get an email? I suppose the idea is that you can wander inside and outside of your home, while never missing that important message. I personally like this a whole lot better then chimes activated by wind. At least you can turn these off.

Several people are getting SMS messages from AT&T reminding them of the long-awaited “free wireless at Starbucks” plan. It was first announced in February with a target launch spring 2008, the service has been quietly running on and off since April, including two hours of daily access at any Starbucks store or AT&T hotspot.

T-Mobile users with existing hotspot accounts are supposed to have ongoing access to the network in Starbucks stores. The service has been available on a spotty basis, but this is an official “yes it’s working” announcement that has been a while in coming. Hopefully we can put an end to this chapter and the service stays on at long last.

The truth is out there. I’m still waiting for Mulder and Scully’s official word on Crop circles, but at least some recent UFO reports can be blamed on this extremely bright disc. This thing is the brainchild of artist Peter Coffin and it was made in collaboration with London-based Cinimod Studio.

It measures in at 7-meters and is constructed of aluminum covered with 3,000 super bright programmable LEDs. It isn’t just pretty, it has more going for it. Like an on-board 6kw generator for power. How is it controlled? Remotely via SMS. Below is a video showing the craft flying off the coast of Sopot, Poland on July 4th.

The I-O Data Mini Keyboard might be for you if you find that you can’t type quickly with the keypad on your cell phone. It connects with your handset via Bluetooth and allows you to type away as if you were using a standard QWERTY computer keyboard.

Granted, you will look like strange typing on this, but what are you gonna do? If you do need this device, you probably have a ton of e-mails you want to deal with while on-the-go, in which case it’s an ideal solution. Or maybe you’re just addicted to SMS. No word on price just yet or availability.

Here’s an interesting way to pimp out your toddler. Korean company YoungToys released a cellphone/digital toy aimed directly at kids and toddlers. “Zeki” uses Near Field Communication(NFC) technology to communicate between mom and kid, or kid and kid, up to an 80-meter distance. Some other features include mp3 playback, voice & video recording, SMS and alarm function and the ability to absorb kid germs.

Zeki also supports the exchange of data between devices, so kids can exchange songs and videos, or plot the demise of an adult. The $105 device is made from materials harmless to their rugrat bodies and the phone is apparently shielded against electromagnetic waves, so you do not have to worry about your kid’s brain being fried. This would go well with the Sweetpea MP3 player he/she has already drooled all over.

How do you update the pen? It’s been around for centuries, but hasn’t really changed in awhile. Well, one way to update it is to integrate texting and email. The D:Scribe is a design concept from Reuben Png. Similar to Bluetooth pens, it will track as you write, then just circle the person’s name and the text or email is sent digitally via a Bluetooth phone.

You can also access everything you’ve written later because it’s all stored in the pen. The message status is shown on a OLED screen. The pen has always been mightier then the sword, and now it will have texting as well.