Free Stuff For Your Cell Phone

Owning a cell phone can be expensive, so if there is a way of getting free stuff that makes your life easier how great would that be? This article includes several free (and some low cost) cell phone/text message related services that you can use for free.

Notes/Warnings:

• Some of these services require that your cell phone is capable of sending and receiving data, and your phone carrier provides these services.
• Before using any of these services make sure to review your cell phone's contract to understand any related fees that you could be charged for using these services.
• All of these these services will use the your available airtime you have purchased from your cell phone provider.
• Finally, these links are not endorsements of the following: companies, web sites and/or services. Use these services at your risk!
  

Free Directory Assistance Services
Telephone and cell phone provider typically charge a $1.00 (or more) for each directory assistance call that is placed. Approximately 6 billion directory assistance calls are made every year within the United States.

• 1-800-FREE411 (or 1-800-373-3411) This service provides free automated directory assistance services after you listen a commercial. Then after that a computer will assist in finding your number. Other companies that offer similar services are: 1-800-411-SAVE (1-800-411-7283) and 1-877-520-FIND (1-877-520-3463).
• If you're looking for the 800 number for some company there is a free directory assistance at 1-800-555-1212.

Backing Up Your Contact Information
If you need to input your contacts information via your cellphone keypad, its the pits no matter how easy they make it. There are applications available that allow you to synchronize the data on your cell phone with your laptop. Although most of these cost money and/or require you purchase an expensive custom cable.

Here are some free (and low cost) tips for managing the data on your cellphone:

• If your cellphone supports BlueTooth, don't purchase those custom cables buy an inexpensive BlueTooth adapter for your computer or laptop.
• If you own a Nokia phone, the company provides free software that you can use to manage and backup the data on it.
• If your cell phone manufacture doesn't provide free software, check out a free service called ZYB. ZYB is a web-based contact information backup service that supports a variety of cell phone models that have an Internet connection. Check out the company's web site for more information.
• If your cell phone doesn't support ZYB then check out a free phone contact backup program called BitPim. This program allows you to view and manipulate data on many CDMA phones from LG, Samsung, Sanyo and other manufacturers.
  

SMS/Voice Related Message Services
Did you know that you can use the SMS features of your phone to perform different types of searches or other related tasks?

• Search Google from your cellphone using SMS to get addresses, phone numbers, word definitions, numeric conversions, weather, and more. All you have to do to get started is text the word HELP to 46645 (GOOGL).
• Google Send to Phone: Send SMS messages to just about any cell phone in the United States using Google's 'Send to Phone' feature. To use this service it is required that you know the carrier of the cell phone that you're going to send a message too.
• Joopz is a web-based two-way text messaging service to any mobile phone in the U.S. and Canada. Send and receive SMS text messages from the Web to any mobile phone for free.
• Pinger instant voice messages to a mobile phone. With Pinger you send voice messages directly to someone instantly without having to call them. Watch this video to find out more.
• Emergency Notification System: A public service web site that will send you a notification when there is a local, regional or national emergency, to your pager, cell phone or email address. These notifications include: severe weather, homeland security, Amber alerts, and more.
• Internet Search Pro at 1-888-ISP-FOR-U (1-888-477-3678), Basically, they'll look up anything that can be found on the Internet and give you a quick answer (i.e.: businesses location, directions, stock quotes, car appraisals, trivial facts, etc.).
• 1-800-555-TELL (1-800-555-8355), uses voice commands to provide you with the latest news, weather, sports, stock quotes, time, and more. You can even check movies or buy tickets over the phone.

Other Cell Phone Services
Below is a list of other great free cell phone related services:

• Google Mobile, Offers several free cell phone based services. You can use services like: Search, access maps, read your email, and catch up on the latest news.
• Yahoo Mobile, Offers several free cell phone based services. You can use services like: IM, search, alerts, games, and more.
• craigsnumber Create disposable numbers that automatically expire after a predefined amount of time.
• The Popularity Dialer: Using a web interface, you can arrange to have your phone called at a particular time (or several times). You will hear a prerecorded message that's one half of a conversation
• Foonz: Free conference calls, all you have to do is create an account, contact list of the people that you want to talk to, and you will receive a dial-up phone number to hold your conference.

Other cell phone related information and articles:

• The "Unlocked Phones" Ruling: The Facts
• Put Your Cell Phone On the 'The Do Not Call List'