I came across a cool application (Mac only) that allows the user to send SMS messages directly from the desktop. It’s called JSMS.
It uses the same login as your respective Vodafone, Meteor or O2 webtext services so the receiver still knows who the text is from. You also have the ability to import all your contacts from the website so that makes the transition even easier.
As far as I know, there are other programs available for Windows that do the same job. Cabbage being one such program. Don’t ask me whether or not it’s good though 
It’s just cool and handy and much easier to use than the clumsy and slow Vodafone website.