No. You do not need to have your number hosted by UniTel Voice in order to enable SMS texting. In fact, you can keep your number with your existing provider, sign up for UniTel Voice texting service, and start receiving and sending text messages on your number without changing a thing. You don't even have to notify your service provider. If you don't have a number, we've got you covered. You can get a number from UniTel Voice. Click here to see our toll free number plans and pricing.
If you wish to ONLY utilize the UniTel Voice texting service (without using UniTel Voice as your service provider for voice traffic), the UniTel Voice Toll Free Texting service as a stand-alone product is $19.99 per month for up to 500 text messages. (Each additional 500 text messages is $5.00.)