The details of SMS are a little different in the US to here in the UK, but most online SMS sites will give you very simple options: email to SMS, an online for

The details of SMS are a little different in the US to here in the UK, but most online SMS sites will give you very simple options: email to SMS, an online form to send SMS (often with the ability to have predefined templates - think MailChimp), probably an API and perhaps other options. You can set up a virtual number to receive incoming - and so do 2 way email - SMS, and (not sure this applies in the US) if you don't need 2 way can spoof your number to show text alert instead, eg the text shows as from "1Up Repairs". In your position it definitely sounds worth exploring. There's a lot of other places than Twilio too. One last hint, if they're "too cheap" they'll be using grey routes and should be avoided like plague.