How to Get Free Home Phone Service

1. Choose a free phone service. A few of the available services are Magic Jack, Ooma and Vonage (see Resource links).  As of 2010, you can buy their set up packages for between $15 and $200.  Note that these payments are one-time charges, and there are no subsequent monthly bills.
2. Wait for your ordered phone to arrive.  Upon receiving the package, check the contents and make sure that they are complete by comparing them with the literature that is provided along with the package.  Should any discrepancies be present, contact the service's company immediately.
3. Plug the provided USB device into your computer's USB port.  Note that it is best that you avoid using multi-port USB hubs, as they can greatly affect the quality of connection required.
4. Plug your phone into the USB device. Wait for the installation to start automatically.  You may see some paid advertisements on your computer monitor first, but after a while, a loading screen should pop out signifying the progress of the installation. Just follow the step-by-step prompts presented.  Once you are done, a window with a number pad will appear on your screen.
5. Dial the number that you wish to call and click 'Send.'  Pick up your phone and wait for the software to connect.  You can now make calls free of charge.

How to Send a Text to a Short Code Via Skype

1. Start Skype, and log in to your account.
2. Click the contact whose mobile you'd like to message.
3. Click the 'SMS' button above the text box. Now type your message, and press 'Enter' when you're finished. If you don't have enough Skype Credit, you'll be asked to purchase more before you can send your message.

The Disadvantage of SMS

SMS
SMS messages, more commonly known as text messages or texts, are brief, text-only messages transmitted over wireless networks from one user to another. Due to their convenience, swiftness and brevity, SMS messages have become an almost universal form of communication in the modern world, with most cell phones and smartphones capable of sending and receiving these messages.
Length
One of the biggest drawbacks to an SMS message is its length. SMS messages can be no longer than 160 characters, with many texting systems allowing carryover to be sent in a separate message. Granted, the odds are you won't be texting your friends the entirety of Leo Tolstoy's 'War and Peace,' but 160 characters can still be a decidedly small space to work with when you need to send detailed information. While carryover texts can address this, they are still considered a separate message, which can be another drawback if you are paying for texting.
Cost
Texts can be quick and convenient, but depending on your wireless plan, they can also be prohibitively expensive over time. SMS rates vary from one carrier to another, and many plans include a limited number of messages for free while others charge a flat fee for unlimited texting. Some carriers charge not only for sending messages, but also for receiving them. While the rate per message may not be much, the sheer volume of texts sent and received in a single month can quickly add up to a sizable portion of your wireless bill.
Multimedia
SMS messages also lack the ability to display multimedia. You can text your friends about how awesome a song is, but you can't let them hear it with a simple text. Some carriers and devices allow the sending of MMS, or Multimedia Messaging Services, which can accommodate some multimedia features. However, with a pure SMS message, you're limited to only a single medium -- text.

How to Track a Prank Caller for Free

1. Call your phone company and have the operator review the last caller. Request to have the specific phone number blocked from your call list. Ask about fees.
2. Pick up your receiver, wait to hear the dial tone, then press '#73' to redial the last number.
3. Refer to your caller ID if your phone comes with a built-in identification feature. Trace incoming phone calls that are not blocked using the caller ID.
4. Keep a phone log and pen near the phone. Record the data and time of all harassing prank calls whenever possible. Notify the phone company or police if the prank calling becomes routine.
5. Contact your phone provider and request to have your number changed at no additional fee if the prank calling continues.
6. Use a free, online reverse phone lookup to obtain the city, state, and owner of the phone number. Proceed to contact the owner with caution.

How to Send SMS Messages to From an iPod Touch

Google Voice
1. Set up your Google Voice account, if you haven't already done so. Google Voice provides you a free virtual phone number that you can link to any other phone, be it mobile or landline. You will be given a number to call and a short PIN code. Call the number and input the code when prompted to activate your account.
2. Go to 'google.com/voice' in your iPod browser and log in to your Google account. Rather than a traditional app, Google Voice uses a Web app that works within your browser.
3. Click the 'Text' button to open the text messaging menu; you can also tap the text messaging icon at the top of the screen. Enter the number you want to text and type the body of your message. Click 'Send.'
4. Tap 'Inbox' to view new incoming SMS messages. Google Voice uses a standard phone number, so other users can send text messages to your Google Voice number just as they would a conventional mobile phone.
TextNow
5. Download the TextNow app to your iPod. TextNow is a free, ad-supported application. You can purchase a yearly subscription for $5.99 or a lifetime removal for $7.99 to remove the ads if you wish.
6. Select the app on your home screen and tap 'Create a New Account.' Select a username for your @textnow.me address. On the next page, create the password for your account.
7. Fill in your area code when prompted and click continue. TextNow will assign you a virtual phone number associated with your TextNow account.
8. Tap the text message icon in the upper right corner of the application. Enter the phone number of the user you want to text and then type the body of your message. You can add emoticons or photos to your text messages by clicking the emoticon/picture icon beside the text message area. Click 'Send' to send the message.
9. Refresh the Messages page by dragging your finger down and releasing; this will force your incoming messages to update, although they should update automatically when you are connected to a wireless network. Your friends will see your TextNow phone number when they receive your text message and will be able to respond accordingly.

How to Remove an SMS Trap

1. Right-click the taskbar. The taskbar is the bar that appears on the bottom of the screen. Select the 'Task Manager' on the menu.
2. Click the 'Processes' tab. Select SMS TRAP.url in the tab. Click 'End Process.'
3. Press the 'Start' button. Enter 'SMS TRAP.url' (without the quotes). Press the 'Enter' key.
4. Highlight the files that appear with your mouse. Press and hold 'Delete' and 'Shift' on the keyboard. Click 'Yes' in the confirmation box.

How to Make Free Land Line Phone Calls With Skype

1. Download and install the Skype application from its official download site. Point your Internet browser to www.skype.com/download/skype/windows/ to download Skype for Windows or click on one of the related links on the right side of the page to locate Skype for Mac OS X or Linux. Click the 'Download Now' button to begin the process. After you download it, install the Skype application.
2. Open the Skype program and register. Before you can sign in, you'll need to register a Skype username and password. Click the 'Don't have a Skype name?' link in the program window; clicking this link takes you to a screen where you can register. Enter the requested registration details needed to use Skype. Check the box confirming that you have accepted the end user license and Terms of Service. Click 'Next' at the bottom of the program and continue filling in details such as your email address and country. Click 'Sign In' to complete the registration process and open the Skype application.
3. Connect your headset to the audio output or USB connection on your computer depending on the type of hardware you have. Your headset will allow you to hear and speak during a Skype conversation.
4. Make free calls to other Skype users by adding contacts and calling them within the software. Click the 'New Contact' option in the Contacts menu at the top of the Skype application; enter a person's Skype username, full name, or email address to find a contact. Once you add a contact, click the green 'Call' button on the right side of the Skype application or locate the Call menu at the top of the screen and click the 'Call' option to begin a conversation.
5. Purchase Skype credit or a subscription that allows you to make inexpensive phone calls worldwide from your computer or from a Skype handset. Subscription options for Skype can be found at www.skype.com/allfeatures/subscriptions/. A Skype subscription that allows you to make unlimited phone calls to landlines and cell phones in the U.S. and Canada costs just around $3 per month.
6. Subscribe to other Skype services that make it easier to make phone calls to contacts. Buy an online Skype phone number so that your contacts can call you using a traditional landline phone number. Buy a SkypeToGo subscription to make inexpensive calls on your mobile phone or when traveling abroad; the SkypeToGo subscription gives you a special access phone number to call that connects you to Skype.
7. Purchase a USB phone that connects to your computer or a Skype cordless phone. Examples include the Belkin Desktop Internet Phone or the RTX Dualphone. These types of phones make it easier to use Skype as they don't require the use of a headset but are traditional telephone devices. A Skype cordless phone requires the use of an Internet router and has Skype software built-in allowing you to make and receive Skype calls anywhere in your home or office. Skype phones and devices can be found online at shop.skype.com/.