How to Send an SMS at No Charge

1. Log into your e-mail. Enter the 10-digit phone number and the domain name, e.g. 5551212@vztext.com. See References section for cell phone provider domain names. When your message is complete, press 'Send.'
2. Visit the recipient's cell providers website. Navigate through the site and click on the 'Send a Text Message' link.
3. Enter the recipient's phone number. Type your message. Enter any remaining information, such as your name and call back number. Press 'Send' to transmit the message.

How to Send an SMS From GTalk

1. Navigate to Gmail.com and log in to your account.
2. Send an SMS to a contact by hovering your mouse over the person's name in your Google Talk contact list at the left and clicking 'More,' then 'Send SMS.' If the contact's phone number is stored in your address book, a new chat window will open and you can type and send the message from this window. If the contact's phone number is not stored in your address book, you'll be prompted to enter a phone number before the chat window appears.
3. Send an SMS to any mobile phone number by typing the area code and phone number in the search box at the top of the Google Talk contact list and then clicking 'Send SMS.' Type your message in the chat window that appears and press 'Enter' to send the message.

How to Use Google Maps to Trace a Cell Phone

Trace A Cell Phone with Latitude
1. Go to the Google Latitude website on your computer, or through your cell phone to download the free software for Google Maps Mobile. You can download it to either your computer or your cell phone.
2. Invite your friends and family to join Latitude. If they already have a Gmail account, Google will ask you upon installation if you want to invite them. If they sign up, you can trace their cell phone location in real time on Google Maps. Their location will show up on the map as they move around. Privacy settings can be adjusted so only those who you want to be seen by can see your locations.
3. Contact your friends and family who are using Latitude if you lose your cell phone. They can log into their Latitude account and help you locate your phone by viewing Google Maps. If the cell phone is turned on, its location will appear. You can also use your computer to track your cell phone if it is lost.
Use Google Map's Click to Call.
4. Locate a misplaced cell phone in your home or office by having Google call the cell phone. This is useful if you do not have another phone on hand with which to call the cell phone. Go to Google Maps and look up any business such as a pizza place.
5. Click on the 'Call' link next to the Google Maps search results for the business you want to be connected to. It does not matter if the number is local or long distance.
6. Listen for the cell phone to ring or vibrate nearby. Google will call the cell phone and the phone will ring if it is turned on. If you answer the call, you will be automatically connected to the business you clicked on when on the computer.

How to Unlock Cell Phones Using a Laptop

1. Type 'Unlock Phone' in the search bar at Download.com (see Resources). Scroll through the results and click on 'Smart DCT-4 Code Calculator.' Follow the on-screen instructions to download the program file and then surf to the file on your desktop and follow the on-screen instructions to install the program.
2. Start the 'DCT-4 Code Calculator' program, turn off your phone and take out the battery. Enter the 15-digit IMEI number from beneath the battery into the search field labeled 'IMEI' in the DCT Code Calculator program. Choose the appropriate 'Country and Service Provider' and then click 'Calculate Unlock Codes.'
3. Take out the SIM card from the back slot of your phone, reinsert the battery and turn the phone on. Type in the codes in the list until you see 'Code Restriction Off.' Once the phone works, you can reinsert the SIM card and use the phone as normal.

How to Send Messages to a Phone

Send an SMS from a Mobile Phone
1. Select 'Messages' on your telephone. This should be easily accessible from the Home Screen. Select the option to create a new message.
2. Choose the text input method. Depending on the language you are writing the SMS in, you may be able to select 'T9.' Write the next message using the alphanumeric keypad on your phone. If you have T9 selected, the phone will predict the word you are attempting to write. You can choose between different alternatives by pressing the up and down keys on most phones.
3. Write the SMS without using T9, if you prefer. Press each number key on the phone's keypad until you get to the letter or number that you want.
4. Type in the number or choose the contact to whom you wish to send the SMS. Press 'Send message.' If you wrote the number correctly, the SMS should send. The message will appear in the SMS outbox until it is sent. After it has been sent, it will be moved to the 'Sent messages' folder.
Send an SMS from the Internet
5. Open your Web browser and navigate to Google.
6. Search for free Internet SMS services in your country. There are also free international SMS services available.
7. Follow the instructions on your chosen website to send your SMS.

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.