A device that receives text messages (not a pager)?

Qwert has a text only plan, but unfortunatly there is a fee.

Not in USA.

How would you have the company do it for Free?

There is a internet printer for “technology challenged” with an email address but it is a monthly connect charge.

If wifi will do, then free text messages are often referred to as emails.

It not, then it has to get the information somehow, so the connection will have a cost.

I am with @funkdaddy here. I used to get e-mails on my iPod Touch, though I had to rely on being around a public-access wifi hotspot to do so. With the right apps, they can also do SMS but the apps often cost a little bit.

Aside from wifi devices like the iPod Touch, the only other options cost money. And wifi-only devices have some pretty severe restrictions on mobility, which is part of why they are free; if you want the same mobility as a cellphone/smartphone/pager then you will pay for the convenience.

I think you can set up a Google Voice account to get text messages only. They get sent to a number you choose and you can check them from the computer, too (or anywhere you can sign into your GV account).

If you’re just going to be on wifi only then there are many apps on the iPod touch that you can use (or other wifi devices) that are free.

Otherwise, you’ll need to pay a fee of some sort.
Devices that come to mind are Peek and maybe Zipit.

In the UK you could get a “pay as you go” mobile. You can pick them up for about £10 and you don’t have to pay to recieve texts or to stay connected to the network.

@Lightlyseared You can get those here too, but they tend to actually cost quite a bit unless you are a light user. When I had my TracFone, I was paying almost as much as I am now for two lines and a data plan.
Those phones generally charge 10–25 cents to send or receive a text. That may not be bad for some people, but for others it’s a quick way to financial ruin.