We all pay more than enough for our cellphones and service fees so any opportunity to get some good/free services to go along with them are hard to pass up. Here are five that may make your life easier without forcing you to dig into your pockets:
- Free 411 – Why not save that $1.75 each time you forget someones phone number and make use of 800-FREE-411 (800-373-3411). A computer or human being looks up a number for you at no charge, once you’ve listened to a 20-second ad. Your other option is to text Google at 46645 (Google – the e) with what you are looking for and where (i.e. “Pizza 90210″ or “Best Buy Dallas TX.” Within a few seconds you will have 2-3 suggestions returned with the name, address, and phone number.
- Tons of information – Google’s 46645 also sends the weather (“weather new york”), stock quotes (“amzn”), movie showings, definitions, driving directions, unit conversions, currency conversions, and more. If texting isn’t your thing or you don’t have a SMS plan why not call 800-555-TELL for travel, traffic, news, stock quotes, sports scores, movies, restaurants, directions, or taxi.
- Call international – Want to call beyond the US borders without severe charges? Why not just make a call to Iowa at 712-858-8883, press 1 for English, enter 011, the country code and the phone number.
- Alternative voicemail – YouMail is new voice mail for cell phones. It allows you to record unique voice greetings for anyone who calls you, based on their caller ID. Individualize your voice greetings for friends, family or important callers while maintaining a standard greeting for work and unknown callers. You can check your voice messages from any phone or via the web and forward favorite messages to anyone via email. Best of all DITCHMAIL hangs up on unwanted callers after your custom greeting for them is played. YouMail works with Cingular, Verizon, and T-Mobile and is free for users who sign up while there are still beta accounts available.
- One number to rule them all – Do you have multiple phone numbers causing you to miss calls when you are in the wrong place? Check out Grand Central to get all your numbers combined into one and then forwarded back out to the right place so you never miss an important work call while you are on the road.
- Mobile Search via a live person – 1-800-KNOW-NOW (1-800-566-9669)
is a mobile search oriented service that allows you to speak with a person who will search for information for you online. You can ask for directions, 411 info, and as well as anything else that exists online (so essentially anything). A nice alternative to the voice recognition and text message world. Though after a few calls you need to register online. [Thanks Jack]
Read [NYTimes]
your number given in Iowa isn't correct. Are you sure they haven't discontinued this service for free international calls?
Thanks,
Michael
The number seems to have been discontinued. I was not able to make any more calls for a few weeks.