The chompSMS app is no real application, but an enhancement to your current SMS app.

App Name: chompSMS
Platform: Android
Price: Free (with carrier texting)
Overall rating: 4/5

An application that iPhone owners could only dream of, chompSMS is available exclusively on the Android OS and supercharges the SMS available on your phone. chompSMS can be used as a replacement to the built-in SMS application, or you can just use it to boost the features of your current application. The application even offers there own message network called the “chompSMS” network. To use their texting service instead of your carriers, you’ll pay a flat rate of $0.12 per text.

They try and tell you this is “much cheaper” then using your carrier, but doing the math, sending 200 texts through there network would run you around $24. Pay an extra $6 and you could probably get unlimited from your own carrier. On the other hand, this is quite a deal for international text messaging, if you do that a lot, but be sure if you do text your pals over seas that your not jacking up their bill.

The application itself enhances the messaging experience nonetheless with a slew of features including: quick compose, chat style bubbles (like on the iPhone),  quick reply option, various user interface customizations, notification customizations, ring tones per contact, and blacklisting. For a free application, it really fixes the holes left from the default app.

The Bottom Line: Its an excellent download that really enhances the way you text people on your phone. The app itself is free and is well worth downloading, but the rates for using their personal network are a bit outrageous. Runs fairly smoothly most of the time but can have a little lag every now and again, but not enough to keep you from using such a great app.