Google will add the SMS service within Gmail, allowing users to can send free SMS directly to any phone. The service will also provide a virtual phone number as well.

This new service was available briefly yesterday but Google pulled it after it found some glitches. But it's expected to be available for everyone within the next few weeks.

Gmail product manager Keith Coleman demonstrated this SMS feature for Webmonkey, a tech website.

After the chat service is enabled in Gmail Labs, the users can type a phone number in the chat search box and click the "Send SMS" button.

When you send a text message to your friend, it will show a phone number from where it came from. That phone number is a special number allocated to you by Google. This number will become associated with you whenever you send an SMS message.

Your friend or contact can save that phone number and send SMS messages and chat with you.

It is not clear whether Google will provide the phone numbers via its GrandCentral phone service. We will find out soon in the coming weeks.