How to Activate a Cricket Phone Without Calling Cricket

1. Log on to Cricket's phone activation web page (See Resources).
2. Click 'Activate Now.'
3. Remove the battery compartment from the back of your phone and locate the Serial Number located on a sticker affix to the Inside of the compartment.
4. Enter the number enter the 'Serial Number' field online.
5. Complete the security task, which may involve selecting specific puzzle pieces. This confirms that you are in fact a human. Once you are done, click the 'Next' button.
6. Fill in the online form with your name, address and phone number.
7. Select a payment method, followed by clicking the 'Activate' link.

How to Text a Number Over the Internet

1. Text a phone number via Send SMS Now website. Click 'Register' link to create an account on the website. Sign in to your account. Enter the text message particulars, including the cell phone number of the recipient, country of residence and the body of the message, into the form given on the website's homepage. Click 'Send SMS' button to deliver your text message.
2. Send a free text via the Txt 2 Day website. Enter the phone number of the recipient and select his phone carrier from the drop-down list. Enter your message into the 'Enter Text Message' field. Provide your email address in the 'Return Email' field, if you want to receive a reply to your SMS. Click 'Send It!' button to deliver your message.
3. Send a free text message via Send Anonymous SMS website. Provide information about the recipient's country of residence, his phone number and body of the message in the respective fields. Enter the security code and click 'Send SMS!' button to deliver your text message.

How to Backup SMS Messages on an Android

1. Open the Android Market on your phone by tapping 'All Programs' on the home screen and then tap 'Market.'
2. Search for the 'SMS Backup and Restore' application. Click 'Free' followed by 'Install.' Wait for the application to install.
3. Open 'All Programs' and select 'SMS Backup and Restore.'
4. Tap 'Backup' and enter a file name for the backup file or accept the default name. Tap 'OK.' Wait for the 'Backing Up Messages' progress bar to confirm the backup is complete.
5. Connect the Android phone to your computer with the phone's USB cable. Tap 'Mount as Disk Drive' when this connection option appears on the phone's touch-screen.
6. Open 'Computer' and then open the 'Removable Disk' drive. Navigate to the 'SD Card' folder. Open the 'SMSBackupRestore' folder.
7. Copy the XML file to your computer to save a backup copy of your text messages.

How to Send a Free SMS Message to a Straight Talk Phone

1. Navigate to the Txt2day website and enter the Straight Talk phone number you would like to send a message to in the 'Phone number' field. Enter your email address, Straight Talk from the provider drop-down menu and enter your message into the message box. Click on 'Send It!' after you have completed your message. Txt2day allows you to send messages with 140 characters or fewer.
2. Navigate to the txtDrop website and enter your email address, the recipient's Straight Talk mobile number and your message. Click on 'Send' after you have completed your message.TxtDrop does not have a message character limit.
3. Navigate to the Text4Free website and enter the recipient's Straight Talk mobile-phone number, select Tracfone from the provider drop-down list, enter your message and an optional attachment, if desired. Enter the text image in the box provided and click on 'Send Message(s).'

How to Get Text Message Updates From Gmail

Email
1. Log in to your Gmail account.
2. Click your Gmail account username link and select the 'Account Settings' option.
3. Scroll to the 'My Products' section, then click the 'Settings link that is located to the right of the 'Gmail' option.
4. Click the 'Forwarding and POP/IMAP' link at the top of the page, then click the 'Add a forwarding address' button.
5. Enter your 10-digit mobile phone number followed by your cellphone carrier's SMS gateway address. For example, you will enter 'your10digitcellphonenumber@vtext.com.' If you are not a Verizon customer and don't know your carrier's SMS gateway, contact your carrier. After entering a forwarding address, you will receive a text message with your verification code.
6. Enter your verification code online and click the 'Verify' button.
7. Check the box next to 'Forward a copy of incoming mail to [yourmobilephonenumber]' and click the 'Save Changes' button at the bottom of the screen. Each time you receive a new email, you will receive a text message notification.
Calendar
8. Log in to your Gmail account.
9. Click your Gmail username link in the upper-right corner of the page and select the 'Account Settings' option.
10. Click the 'Settings' link, which is located next to the 'Calendar' option in the 'My Products' section. The 'Calendar Settings' page will open in your browser.
11. Click the 'Mobile Setup' link. You will need to verify your mobile phone number to receive text message updates.
12. Enter your mobile phone number, select your cellphone carrier and click the 'Send Verification Code' button. You will receive a text message that displays your verification code.
13. Type the code into the 'Verification Code' field. Click the 'Finish Setup' button.
14. Select the 'SMS' option in the 'By default, remind me via' drop-down menu. You will have the option to receive text messages for new invitations, changed invitations, canceled invitations and invitation replies. Check the 'SMS' box next to each of your preferred options.
15. Click the 'Save' button to apply your new notification settings.

How to Send a Text Message From Outlook to a Cell Phone

Set Up Outlook Mobile Service
1. Open your Outlook account. Click the “Tools” menu and select “Account Settings.”
2. Click the “Email” tab and select “New.” Click “Other” and select “Outlook Mobile Service (text messaging)' under server types.
3. Click “Next.” In the “Web Service Address” field, enter the web address of your wireless provider. Enter your username and password for your wireless carrier under “Logon Information.”
4. Click “Test Account Settings” to make sure your account will work. Click “OK.”
5. Close out and restart Outlook.
Send a Text Message
6. Click the “File” menu, click “New” and select “Text Message.”
7. Enter the cell phone number of a recipient in the “To” box. Click the “To” button to find a recipient’s number in the address book.
8. Type the message in the body area. Insert emoticons by clicking the “Text Message” tab. Click “Emoticon String” in the “Insert” group, and select one you want to use.
9. Click “Send.”

How to Send Text Messages From Different Numbers

1. Open your Internet browser on your computer or cell phone if it has Internet capabilities.
2. Access a text message website that does not require you to disclose your cell phone number or email address. (See Resources.)
3. Read the terms of usage before sending a text message.
4. Fill out the designated form on the webpage including the recipient's cell number, provider information and the text message.
5. Press 'Send Message' when complete. The text message will arrive momentarily to the recipient's cell phone.