Your dear old cell phone can be and probably is capable of many new things but it's just that you aren't aware of it. These features or capabilities will help discover your cell phones inner PC.
How to Make Calls by SMS
This method of calling is especially good if your going to make alot of calls outside of the United States. This method utilizes one of two internet programs called Call2 and MyWebCalls. What these two websites do is they let you send an SMS message to their server which can either place the call, only if already registered, or call you back with a dial tone allowing you to manually enter the number you wish to call. Call2 uses standard phone lines, thus more on the expensive side whereas MyWebCalls uses the internet to place it's calls, VOIP, which is cheaper. For example, calling France on: Call2= 6 cents/min MyWebCalls=1.4cents/min. MyWebCalls may be cheaper but may be less reliable. If you'd like to learn about even more VOIP-based services like this go to PCWorld.How to Take Notes via Your Camera Phone
I don't have a camera phone so I personally can't take advantage of this feature but my dad does and he is skeptical, well because he's old. How this works is you take a picture of your notes you made by yourself, your boss, or from a printed document. You then send it to the service, Qipit, the email is copy@qipit.com for black and white images and color@qipit.com for colour images. Before sending the image though you need to register with the service, providing your name, country, email adress, cell number, phone model, and service provider. The only cost you pay, is the cost of the MMS (multimedia message) and this service can only support images taken by a 1.3 megapixel camera that is a JPEG.
Google Without a Browser
Most phones that people own don't have a browser so when we forget where a place is, we can't Google it and find the address and phone number. Well now we can! It didn't work on my phone presumably because my service providor sucks but phones in the US and elsewhere will definitly be able to grasp this piece of technology. The text message! Simply text Googl (46645) and type in anything in the message area you would normally type on Google that would get one answer like: define, listing of business or residence, or conversions. Google will then process it and within a minute Google will have replied with an answer.
Send Voicemail Messages via SMS
Before reading on, you must know that you need to be a US resident to use this service. At first I thought it was complicated with sending this and that but now I believe I get it. Correct me please if I am wrong but this is how it works. First you sign up for the service and link your cell phone with it. There are 2 things you can do with this service, you can leave group voicemails (voicemails for a lot of people that are identical) and send voicemail like a text message on your cell phone. Learn much more at Pinger.
Call 411 For FREE!
The cost to call 411 is pretty expensive if you ask me so I was extremely glad to hear about a new way to call 411 for free. Here's how it goes. All you do is call 1 800 FREE 411. The only catch is you have to listen to a short advertisement but other than that it works exactly like the regular 411 with an automated voice to guide you to get the information you need.
Connect With Multiple Friends via SMS
A lot of the tricks I describe here are SMS based as it is a cheap way to connect and this one is no exception. It sadly again only works 22 US cities so me and my other Canadian pals won't be able to utilize this service. Go to Dodgeball and sign up for the service. This site allows you to connect with your social network via SMS by broadcasting your location to friends via the service and then to your all your friends cell phones. For example, say your at this festival and you find it really good, send one text message to the service astating where you are nd it does the rest which is send text messages to all your friends telling them your location and as well it sends a text message to friends of your friends who are within a 10 block radius.You can also use it as a Google search engine to find venues and locations.