How to Get an Unlock Code Off of Your Cell Phone

1. Identify what type of phone you have to see if you can get the unlock code directly from your carrier, or if it can be found online from a free, or sometimes paid, service. Once you know the exact make and model of your phone, you can visit a free website to see if your unlock code is available for free (see link in Resources). Also, try contacting your previous provider to see if it is able to provide your unlock code to you directly. If you have a Nokia phone, the website offers a free download tool as well (see link in Resources).
2. Many high-end data phones, including models from Sony Ericsson, BlackBerry, Treo, LG and HTC smartphones can only be unlocked with software and a special cable. The software you download uses a remote database of unlocking codes and transmits the right code to your phone via the connected cable. The software and cable usually end up costing between $15 to $60 total (in 2009), but you can also send your phone off to a service that can unlock your phone for you. Most services charge a flat fee, somewhere in the $20 to $40 range. Your phone will be returned to you within 7 to 10 days.
3. Once you have successfully unlocked your phone and moved to a different cell phone service provider, you will have to reprogram the phone's data settings so you can utilize all its capabilities--picture mail, text messaging, web access and more.T-Mobile users can get their settings online (see link in Resources). Cingular users will need to dial '611' and have their MMS and WAP settings sent over to their phone number (which can be done remotely when you call in). For other providers, such as Verizon and Sprint, take your phone into one of the stores and have them reset the phone directly.

How to Send a Text Message to an ATT GoPhone

Send Text Via Email
1. Log in to your email account and click the 'New' or 'Compose mail' tab depending on your email provider.
2. Type the number, including the area code, of the GoPhone you want to send a text message to in the 'To' field followed by '@txt.att.net.' In other words the email address will look like this: (GoPhonenumber)@txt.att.net. Enter a subject in the subject field if desired.
3. Enter the text message you want to send in the body of the email without exceeding 160 characters, which is the limit for a text message. Click the 'Send' tab to send the email, and the GoPhone user will receive your email as a text message.
Send Text Via the Internet
4. Browse to the Online Text Message website, onlinetextmessage.com. Enter the GoPhone wireless number in the text field displayed beneath 'Mobile Number (to): (XXXXXXXXXX).'
5. Enter your email address in the field displayed beneath 'Your E-Mail Address (from):' and then enter a subject for your text message in the field displayed beneath 'Subject.'
6. Enter the text message you want to send in the text field located beneath 'Enter Message.' This service limits you to 100 characters per message so make sure that you don't exceed this limit. Click the 'Send Message' tab and the text message will be sent to the AT&T GoPhone number you entered.
Send Text Using Your Cell Phone
7. Access the menu screen on your mobile device and select the 'Messages' or 'Messaging' option depending on your specific mobile device.
8. Select the 'New Message' option displayed on the 'Message' menu and select the 'Text Message' or 'TXT Message' option depending on your phone.
9. Enter the 10 digit GoPhone number in the 'To' field and type the text message in the text field. Select the 'Send' button to send the text message to the desired GoPhone.

How to Make a Call From a PC to a Mobile Phone

1. Register an account with a vendor or service that allows you to make calls via your computer using your Internet connection. Examples of services you can register with include Skype, Yahoo! Voice, VoxOx by Telcentris, FriendCaller, ooVoo and Vbuzzer by Softroute Corporation.
2. Download and install the vendor's software to your computer. Install Yahoo! Messenger if you're using Yahoo! Voice. Download and install the Skype application if you've registered with Skype. Vbuzzer, FriendCaller, VoxOx and ooVoo all require you to install calling or messenger-type applications.
3. Log into your account with the vendor or open the calling application you installed. Click the 'Buy Credit' option in your account. Select an amount of money you want to add to your account and make the purchase to have your account credited with prepaid minutes.
4. Connect a headset to the microphone and/or headphone jacks on your computer.
5. Open the vendor's calling or messenger-type application on your computer. Click the 'Call' or 'Place Call' option or icon from the application window. Select the country of the mobile phone number you want to call, if necessary. Type or click the mobile phone number you want to call on the keypad shown in the application. Click the 'Call' or 'Dial' option to place the call.

How to Send SMS Through a Gateway

1. Look up the email domain/gateway for the recipient's service provider. This should be easy to find on the internet. Google Tutor has a list of them for common U.S. cell phone service providers.
2. Open your email program.
3. Write out the person's phone number into the send box. The first part consists of phone number, and the second part, following the '@' symbol, is the gateway specific to service provider. For example, a T-Mobile user with the number (555) 123-4567 has an email of 5551234567@tmomail.net.
4. Write the content of the message.
5. Click send.

How to Send Free SMS to Tata Indicom Mobiles

1. Use SendSMSNow (see Resources). This service allows you to send text messages all over the world for free. You will need to register by providing a user name, password, first and last name and email address. Once you've done this you, enter the country code and phone number that you wish to message. Then type in the text (up to 140 characters) and send it.
2. Go to 160by2 (see Resources). This site caters to users in Asia and the Middle East. You will need to register by providing a user name, password, mobile phone number and email address. Once you have done this, you can send unlimited free text messages to India or any other Asian or Middle Eastern country.
3. Join Way2SMS (see Resources). This site caters to Indian users. When registering, you will need to provide your name, password, birthday, profession, annual income and phone number. You will receive advertising from this site, but otherwise it is free to join. Once you have completed the registration, enter the Tata Indicom Mobile number that you wish to text, followed by the message. Click 'Send' and you are finished.

How to Get a Free Chirp on a Boost Mobile

1. Subscribe to Boost's monthly unlimited plan. This gets you unlimited chirps, talk minutes, texts, web access, 411, instant messages and email. Pay an additional $5 per month for unlimited international plans.
2. Live, work or vacation in Baja California, Canada, Chile or the United States. Boost Mobile's walkie-talkie feature supports only these territories, as of November 2010.
3. Give your 'Boost Walkie-Talkie Number' to your family and friends who have cell phones enabled with the walkie-talkie feature through Boost or Nextel.
4. Listen for the chirp sound on your phone. When you receive a chirp, your phone's screen will say, 'Private in Use.' The chirp sender's 'Boost Walkie-Talkie Number' will also display.
5. Answer the chirp by pressing the 'Boost Walkie-Talkie Button' on the side of your phone. Keep pressing this button as long as you are talking. Release the button to hear the other person talk.

How to Use Google to Track Cell Phone Locations

1. Download Google Latitude to your phone or computer. If you want to download it to your phone, you need to provide your phone number. If you want to download it to your computer, you must have a Google login. The link to the download page is in the Resources section at the end of this article.
2. Install the software by following the on-screen directions. Installation should take no more than a minute.
3. Open Google Latitude. Type the phone number, including the area code, into the search bar. The location of the cell phone will displayed on a Google map.