Facebook users will be able to send SMS messages from their Facebook account to their friends’ mobiles now as Vodafone has launched a trial providing the new service. Vodafone plan to extend the service to include picture messaging next month.

Vodafone customers will also be given the option to send messages from their mobile phone by installing the ‘Vodafone Connect to Friends’ application to their Facebook account. The application will also allow Vodafone customers to send messages to friends that are no on Facebook. In a blow to their competitors, Vodafone allows Vodafone Connect to Friends to be used by non-customers also.

Subscribers to the new service will be given 25 free texts with additional messages costing 10p for SMS and 30p for picture messages. Monthly contract customers will see the additional messages charged on their bills and Pay As You Go customers will have the cost reduced from the credit on their phone.

Vodafone Group internet service director, Peter Knock said: ‘With more than 20 million social network users the UK alone it is the perfect market in which to test a Vodafone service that allows all mobile users to send texts and picture messages via the Facebook experience. Through this partnership Vodafone aims to continue its commitment to provide easy access to communication services and communities by bringing the worlds of mobile and PC Internet together. This is a ground breaking social networking opportunity for all UK mobile users.’