How to Make Phone Calls Over the Internet

1. Make sure you can connect to the Internet with your Broadband Internet Connection.
2. Make sure your computer is equipped with a sound card of at least 16 bits. The sound card should also allow recording.
3. Purchase compatible speakers and a microphone if you don't already have these components.
4. Buy or download Internet telephony software and install it on your computer. The software you choose must be the same as or compatible with the software of the people you wish to call.
5. Make arrangements with the person you wish to call establishing that you will be online at a specific time.
6. Follow the instructions of your specific telephony software for making a call. This usually involves accessing a server and selecting a name from a list of users who are currently online.

How to Archive SMS Messages

1. Create an account with Treasure My Text (see Resources.) A free archiving system, Treasure My Text allows you to easily archive and organize your text and SMS messages. Just forward the message you want to save to one of their 'standard rate numbers' and it appears in your account. From there, you can organize the messages into folders or contact groups. Treasure My Text works with GSM network carriers like Virgin, AT&T and Verizon.
2. Archive your iPhone or Blackberry SMS messages with a device specific application. Smartphones work differently than some cell phones, so it makes sense that developers would create different platforms to back up iPhone, Blackberry and other smartphone SMS messages. You can use free applications, like iPhone SMS or Dexrex Extentions for Blackberry (see Resources,) or you can download applications from Apple or Blackberry directly for a small fee.
3. Forward your SMS to your email account. Most mobile devices will let you send an SMS as an email, even if you do not have email set up on the device. Once you forward the message you want to save to your email account, you can either save it within your email client or download it to your computer and save it there.

How to Send a Text Message Using Google

Create Google Account
1. Proceed to the next section if you already have a Google account. Otherwise, visit the Google account setup Web page.
2. Click the 'Create an Account' button to display the 'Create an Account' page.
3. Fill out the sig-up form and click 'I Accept Create My Account.' When the logon page appears, visit the Gmail Web page and sign in using your new username and password.
4. Click the 'Contacts' button to open the 'Contacts' management window.
5. Click 'Add to My Contacts,' and enter the name of someone you would like to text message. Click 'Add.' Gmail adds the new name to the contacts lists and displays the name in a list.
6. Click that name. A new window appears containing text boxes such as 'Email Address' and 'Phone Number.'
7. Type the contact's email address and mobile phone number in the appropriate text boxes. Gmail saves this contact information. Add as many contacts as you wish by repeating these steps. .
8. Click 'Chat,' and enter the name of the contact you wish to message in the 'Search of Inviter Friends' text box. The 'Send SMS' option should appear in a drop-down list of options. If you see that option, proceed to the next step. Otherwise, click the 'Settings' icon, click 'Labs,' and then click the 'Enable' radio button next to 'SMS (Text Messaging) in Chat.' Enter the contact's name again. The 'Send SMS' option will appear.
9. Click the 'Send SMS' option. Gmail displays a dialog box containing the contact's name on the right side of the page. Your contact's phone number appears at the top of that dialog box.
10. Type your text message in the text box at the bottom of the dialog box, and press 'Enter' to send the message.

How to Get Free Games on Your Cell Phone

1. Locate sites that offer free phone games. One such site is mobilerated.com Visit Mobilerated.com. They provide over 1000 cellular phone games completely for free.
2. Choose 'Select your phone'. Choose your type of cell phone from the list provided.
3. Select your model of phone from the list.
4. Browse the list of available games to find the ones you would like to play. Write down the names of the games that you would like to download to your phone.
5. Visit Mobilerated.com/wap using your mobile phone.
6. Type the title of a game you selected into the 'Search' box.
7. Click on the correct game title and download the game directly to your cell phone.
8. Return to the Mobilerated.com/wap, search and download any additional games you selected that are compatible with your phone.

Can I Send a Text Message Without Showing My Number?

From the Web
Text messages can be sent anonymously and for free from cell phone provider websites. It is important to visit the website of the cell phone provider of the person you are trying to text. For example, if your friend uses Verizon Wireless, you would visit text.vzw.com to send a text message. You can leave the 'from' field empty to make it anonymous!
Free Anonymous Text Websites
Some free text messaging websites allow for anonymous texts to be sent. Examples include AnonTxt.com, TxtForFree.net, and FakeMyText.com. These websites allow you to send text messages to any cell phone without displaying your cell phone number.
Send Anonymous Texts from iPhone
If you have an iPhone, you can send anonymous text messages from your cell phone using an iPhone application. One application that allows users to send messages anonymously is SMSveil. After purchasing this application, iPhone users can send unlimited anonymous text messages.

How to Send Funny Text Messages to Your Phone

1. Go to funsms.net (see Resources for other sites). This site will provide you with jokes and short riddles on all manner of topics, completely free of charge.
2. Look to the left sidebar and find a link that says, 'SMS Messages' and click on the link. Look for the link that says, 'free online sms service provider' (this will be in the middle of the page) and right click on the link. Select 'Open link in new tab' on the box that pops up.
3. Stay on the page that you are currently browsing and click on a link that says, 'Funny SMS' or 'Funny SMS Jokes.' Highlight and copy the funny SMS using the 'Ctrl + C' command.
4. Go to the new tab you have opened and click on the link that shows the name of your country. Look for the cell phone service provider that you use and click on the appropriate link on this page and select the best one to send free SMS to your phone.
5. Enter the cell phone number that you wish to send the text to, along with the country code. Paste the joke into the text box using the 'Ctrl + V' command, and click 'Send.'

How to Send Private Text Messages to People

AOL Instant Messenger Method
1. Download AOL Instant Messenger to your computer.
2. Create a username. Remember to create an anonymous username that does not give away your identity if you would like the text message to remain private.
3. Click 'Menu' and select 'Add to Buddy List.' A new window will pop up, allowing you to add the contact information of the person you wish to text. Be sure to add this person's full phone number. Click 'Save.'
4. Highlight the person's name on your buddy list. Right click on the name and select 'Text Message (SMS)' from the pull-down menu.
5. Type your message and hit 'Send' once complete.
Third Party Website Method
6. Find an online website that allows free SMS texting. I use a website called 'TextEm'.
7. Enter the recipient's mobile number.
8. Select the recipient's mobile carrier. The text message will not be received if you incorrectly send the carrier. This is done to discourage spam messages from being sent.
9. Type your message. You can write up to 155 characters.
10. Enter the security message and agree to the terms. Hit 'Send Message.' The recipient should receive the message in a matter of seconds.