How to Receive Online SMS Messages From a Phone

1. Verify with your carrier that your phone can receive SMS or text messages. Many cellphone carriers and plans allow for SMS messaging.
2. Open your cellphone when you see that a message is received. Most cellphones will alert you when a message is received via an envelope icon and the sender's name if applicable.
3. Select 'View Message Now' or 'Read Now' on your cellphone. The message will now be displayed on your cellphone's screen.

How to Send an SMS Overseas

1. Verify that your mobile provider offers international text messaging. If it does, turn on your phone and go to the 'Main Menu' of your phone and select the Messaging menu. 
2. Go to the messaging options and select 'Create a Text Message.' Compose a text message of up to 160 characters. If you go over this limit then your message will be divided into two parts.
3. On the recipient field, enter the country code of the recipient followed by their phone number. (Country codes start with '+' and 2 digits followed by the 10-digit mobile number.)
4. Verify that you have entered the correct number and click 'Send' to start sending the text message. You will get a confirmation when the text is sent.

How to Upgrade Phones for Free

1. Check with your cell phone provider about its upgrade requirements. Most cell phone carriers allow for a free upgrade when either starting a new plan or after a two-year period.
2. Test out the free phones. Not all phones will be free of charge, but most carriers will have several models available at no cost. Try the phones, making sure the features they offer fit your needs.
3. Sign a new agreement. Whether extending your agreement with your current provider or signing a new agreement with a new carrier, you will need to sign a two-year contract to receive the phone at no cost.

Using a BlackBerry to Make a Free International Call

1. Select the communication service that is right for you. Jaxtr will provide a local number for you and the person you are calling and then the calls are connected and you are only liable for your minutes or any charges your cell phone plan will charge you for local calls. If you choose a program such as Skype Mobile, you will be using VoIP technology which does not affect your minutes.
2. Sign up for the service of your choice and download any necessary software to your phone.
3. Add your contacts. In order for calls to be free using Skype, the person you are calling must also have Skype.
4. Call your friend or loved one. Using Jaxtr he will be sent a local number via text message and you will hold on the line until the call is connected. This may take a couple of minutes to connect. Using Skype Mobile, the call will be connected like a normal everyday phone call.

How to Send a Free SMS With Mobilink

1. Visit an online site such as FreeSMS or Nice Pakistan and enter the mobile number of the person who you would like to message from your computer.
2. Type in the person's nickname and your message.
3. Hit 'send' to send the SMS message from your computer to their cell phone for free.

How to make free calls on your iPhone with Google Voice

1. Google Voice is still invite only so if you don't have an account you can request one here: https://services.google.com/fb/forms/googlevoiceinvite/ Or ask a friend who already has an account to invite you.
2. Log in to your Google Voice account (http://voice.google.com) and under Settings on the Phones tab make your iPhone the one that Google Voice forwards calls to.
3. To set up your contacts. You can import from a number of sources or manually add them. To make it easier to navigate on the iPhone I suggest you only add the 10-15 people you call the most.
4. Now log in to http://voice.google.com/m/ in Safari on your iPhone. Navigate to the Contacts and everyone you set up in the previous step should show up. Click one of the names and Google Voice should call your iPhone and then connect the call to your contact all for free without using any of your minutes on your calling plan.

How to Monitor Cell Phone Text Messages

1. Study your federal and state telecommunications laws to ensure your intended use of the software is, in fact, legal. As examples, parents may legally install mobile-monitoring software to find out who is calling/texting their kids and also use GPS trackers to locate their children. Couples may agree to install tracking software on each others' phones to always know where the other one is, or even to assure their partner that they are staying faithful.As a general rule of thumb, however, it is illegal to spy on anyone's phone (cell or land-line) without their knowledge and consent.
2. Investigate the various cell-phone monitoring software programs available on the market. Be prepared to pay either a one-time price for the software package or a monthly fee (usually around $10-$15 per month, depending on the features you want).A few popular choices are Disney Mobile for parents of young children, Verizon's Family Locator and the Radar program, for which you can sign up at MyMobileWatchdog.com. See References and Resources for more information.
3. Sign up for the service of your choice, set up your secure log-in and password, then download the software via wireless to a compatible cell phone.In this tutorial, we will be using the Radar service, but you'll find the basic functions of all cell-phone monitoring software are essentially alike, regardless of which one you ultimately choose.
4. Log in to the Radar system and set up your child's 'approved' friends and family call list. Once this is done, you can log back in to the site anytime to see a record of all incoming/outgoing calls, texts, picture and video messages that are sent to your child's cell phone.If anyone who is not on the 'approved' list calls or texts your child's phone, Radar quickly sends an alert to you on your cell phone.
5. Inform your kids that their cell-phone use is being monitored. It is better for them to know in advance than to be surprised by a confrontation later. They will feel as if their privacy has been invaded and that you are 'snooping' on them. Even if you have every legal right to do so, not telling them can create trust issues, hurt feelings and tension between you, because eventually they will find out.'Kids' privacy rights are, by custom and tradition, like respecting closed doors and journals,' warns Marc Rotenberg, executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center. 'Constant surveillance of your kids, or secret surveillance of your kids, may not be the best way to build trust, and that's something parents need to consider.'