How to Make Free International Phone Calls Using Your Computer

Skype
1. Get a copy of Skype, an online phone-calling service, for your computer. You can find a direct link in the Resources section below.
2. When the program is downloaded, start looking for your international friends, colleagues, family, or whomever it is you need to call (they must have Skype on their computer as well, for this to be free). Add the names of the people you want to communicate with to your contact list.
3. Connect your microphone headset to your computer and load Skype. Find the username of the party you want to call under the 'Contacts' list and see if he is online. You should see a green icon and a red icon; press the green one to initiate your call and the red one to end it.
Ring Plus
4. Replace your current phone service with Lingo VoIP phone service (see link below), where you can make unlimited local and long-distance calls in the United States for a low flat rate using your computer and a high-speed connection.
5. Go to the RingPlus website (link below) and sign up for an account.
6. Find the access number that is closest to your current location and call in using your Lingo computer phone service. You will be asked to enter your RingPlus account number and PIN, which you should have gotten when you signed up.
7. Enter the international phone number (don't forget to press 9, plus the country code first). While you are waiting for the call to be connected, you will have to listen to advertisements, but the call itself is free.

How to Unlock a Network Locked Phone

Through the Network
1. Find your phone's IMEI number. This is often colloquially referred to as a 'serial number,' and is a unique 15-digit number which is found on the label underneath your phone's battery. You can also find this by typing '*#06#' into your handset. This is one of the many codes that performs operations on your phone, and is used in the same way as the unlock code you'll receive later. Copy your IMEI number down onto a piece of paper.
2. Contact your network. Most networks will provide you with your unlock code in exchange for an often relatively large fee. If you have been with them for a while, they may be merciful, and give you the code for free, but in most cases they will charge.
3. Give them your IMEI number. This is needed to generate your unique unlock code and is the only information they will require besides the make and model of your phone. Networks are generally quite slow in sending out your code, and you may be waiting around a week to receive it.
4. Type your unlock code into your handset. This can normally be done without special preparation, but some phones require you to switch it on without the SIM in to remove the network block. You will see a message confirming that the block has been lifted.
Through Independent Companies
5. Get your phone's IMEI number in the way described above (type '*#06#' into the handset). Many mobile phone users need their phone unlocked at some point, and as a result, there are many companies online, such as The Phone Unlockers, that provide unlock code for a small fee.
6. Enter details of your make and model into the website, and quote your IMEI number in the space requested. Websites often charge a lot less and deliver a lot more quickly than the networks themselves, and are in many ways the better option. You will usually have your code within a few days.
7. Input the unlock code into your handset. Your phone will now be free from the network block, and you can change networks. Unlocking also increases the resale value of your phone.

How to Send Text Messages to Verizon Customers

1. Open any Web browser on your computer, such as Internet Explorer, Safari, Opera or Firefox.
2. Go to Verizon's 'Send a Text Message' online texting page. The direct link to this site is located in the Resources section of this article.
3. Enter the Verizon wireless number you wish to send a text message to in the 'Send To' field. Do not include spaces, dashes or parenthesis. Separate multiple wireless numbers with commas if sending a text message to more than one Verizon wireless number simultaneously.
4. Type your message into the 'Your Message' field.
5. Type your name into the 'From' field. This will show up in the final text message to the Verizon wireless customer to identify who the message is from.
6. Enter your phone number into the 'Callback Number' field. Again, this is done without spaces, dashes or parenthesis.
7. Click the 'Send' button. The entire message has a 140 character limit.

How to Send an SMS Using an SMPP

1. Navigate through the main menu of your cellular phone or mobile device to 'SMS Messaging,' then select it by pressing 'Enter' (or an equivalent command). Many cell phones and mobile devices differ in the means of navigating to this option, but once you have selected the correct command, they will all open an 'SMS Compose' screen.
2. Compose the text content of your SMS into the 'SMS Compose' screen input window using your keypad or QWERTY keyboard.
3. Press 'Send' (or equivalent command) to send your SMS message. The cellular network will then use the SMPP technology to transmit your message to the recipient.

How to Send a Text to a Bell Canada Cell Phone

1. Choose the option on your cell phone to create a new text message, just as you would to send a text message to any other destination. For the destination or 'To' field, enter the properly formatted number of the Bell Canada cell phone where the text message should be sent. Whether you are inside or outside of Canada, include the country code (which is 1 for Canada), the area code, and the phone number.
2. Go to the Bell Mobility Web Messaging website in your web browser to send a text message to a Bell cell phone through the web. In the 'Send to' field, enter up to ten phone numbers, separated by commas, in 10-digit format---area code and phone number, but no country code. Enter a validation code by retyping the characters displayed; this is required to ensure this website is not misused.
3. Send an email to the 10-digit phone number, followed by '@txt.bell.ca' to send a text message to a Bell cell phone by email. For example, to send a text message by email to phone number 555-1234 in area code 519, enter '5195551234@txt.bell.ca' in the 'To' field.

How to Receive a Free Cell Phone and Free Monthly Minutes

1. You may qualify for a free cell phone and monthly minutes on lifeline phone program if you receive public assistance, or under 135% of the Federal Povery Guidelines. Example: If you are single and earn only $900.00/ month you qualify. You can fill out the application on line or call the number below.
2. File your application at www.safelinkwireless.com. or call 1-800-977-3768. This service is currently available in Florida,Tennessee,Georgia,Massachusets,Michigan,New York,Pennsylvania. More states are being added to the list.
3. If you receive Liheap,SSI,free school lunch, Tanf Cash assistance,Medicaid, Blind pension, Hud assistance and food stamps you will qualify. You will receive your phone in the mail and you can add minutes at the web site.

How to Send Multiple Text Messages Online

1. Ask the people you want to send the text message to who their cell phone carrier is. To email a text message, you'll need to know the carrier, so ask around and create a written list so you can refer back to it.
2. Get the SMS Gateway for each cell phone carrier by looking at an SMS Gateway list such as the one found at Mutube, Accutracking or Email Text Messages.
3. Launch your online email account and click 'Compose New Message.' Enter all the cell numbers plus their sms gateways in the 'To' Field. It should look like this:1234567898@page.metrocall.com, 0987654321@vtext.comSeparate each address with a comma. Compose your message.
4. Click 'Send' to email the text to all the recipients.