Hi,

I send lots of SMS from the US to the UK and am finding it very
expensive seeing as I have to pay to send and to recieve these texts.
Is there any cheaper alternatives?

I know that you can basically use the web to send free texts but I
would like to send them from my cell as I am not always near a
computer.

Some Service Providers (in the UK) allow a large number of SMS for
free, depending on the contract.

Worth checking out, also if their tariff includes International messaging.

Maybe getting a Tri-Band from a UK supplier might also be an option?

If you can access the web relatively cheaply on your phone, then this site:

http://www.hotxt.co.uk/

may be of use.

some providers have things called Overseas Sims

There is a website

www.0044.co.uk 

and it allows you to send texts to the UK for 12p if you buy a sim
card which costs £34.99 and if you need to ring the UK it costs you
30p