I use Google Voice when I’m  on the  computer (which is most of the time) and I start receiving text messages from Jane or one of the kids.  Google Voice gives you a free phone # that can also receive and send text messages.  I can go to the Google Voice website and type in my messages using my computer keyboard, or read text messages received.   Google voice maintains a thread just like GMAIL.  You can do other things such as forward the # to another phone so that your primary phone rings if someone calls it.  It also transcribes voice messages into text messages!

Here is a portion of what Google Voice looks like: