Save Time, Money with Cellular Secrets
Cellular secrets that will save you both time and money.
April 12, 2009— -- We count on our mobile phones to stay connected with friends and family. But their cost in both time and money can be high. So, try these secrets to save a lot of both.
1. Send Texts Via E-mail
Does your phone not support multimedia messaging? Or are you nearing your monthly text-messaging limit? Then send your photo or text message via e-mail.
Just open a new e-mail message. In the To: field, enter the 10-digit telephone number (without dashes). Then enter the appropriate domain name for the recipient's carrier.
AT&T: @txt.att.net
Sprint: @messaging.sprintpcs.com
T-Mobile: @tmomail.net
Verizon: @vtext.com
Standard charges apply for the recipient. If you're e-mailing from a cellphone, you'll pay for data usage.
2. Block Messages
Maybe you don't like text messaging. So why pay to receive unwanted texts? Block texts or set up filters.
AT&T users must register for Message Preferences at mymessages.wireless.att.com. Sign in and you're given options to block specific types of messages. You can also allow and block messages from specific numbers.
Sprint lets you block messages from specific numbers. Log in to your account online. Click My Sprint, then My Online Tools. Under Communication Tools, select Block Text Messages.
Some plans may not provide this option. Or, you may want to block all billable messages. In that case, call *2 for customer service.
T-Mobile lets you block messages based on type. Log in to your account online and click My Account, then Change services. Select the blocking features you would like. Click Change Services.
For Verizon, log in to your online account. Select Preferences and choose Text Blocking. Block specific addresses or types of messages.
3. Skip the Formalities
Tired of listening to your friend's obnoxious voice mail greeting? Then skip it. When the greeting starts, enter the appropriate code for the recipient's carrier.
AT&T: #
Sprint: 1
T-Mobile: #
Verizon: *
Shortcuts to Stay On Top of Your Account
4. Check Your Account
Have you used up your monthly minutes? And how many text messages do you have left? A quick call will tell you. Just use these shortcuts.
AT&T
*MIN# (*646#) for minutes used
*DATA# (*3282#) for text usage
*BAL# (*225#) for account balance
*PAY (*729) to make a payment
Sprint
*4 for billing information
*3 to make a payment
T-Mobile
#MIN# (#646#) for minutes used
#MSG# (#674#) for text usage
#BAL# (#225#) for account balance
Verizon
#MIN (#646) for minutes used
#DATA (#3282) for text usage
#BAL (#225) for account balance
#PMT (#768) to make a payment
5. Navigate Your Voice Mail
Checking your voice mail can be a chore. But, shortcuts can help you out when you're listening to a message. Speed it up, slow it down, save it and more.
AT&T
1: Rewind
2: Pause
3: Fast forward
4: Slower
5: Message date and time
6: Faster
7: Delete
9: Save
0: Help
(#): Skip
(*): Exit
Sprint
1: Message date and time
2: Reply
3: Fast forward
4: Replay
5: Rewind
6: Forward message
7: Delete
8: Call back
9: Save
0: Help
(#): Skip
(*): Cancel
Verizon
1: Rewind
11: Replay
2: Pause
3: Fast Forward
33: End of message
4: Slow
5: Message date and time
6: Speed
7: Delete
9: Save
0: Help
(*): Exit
(#): Skip
T-Mobile
1: Rewind
11: Replay
2: Pause
3: Fast forward
33: End
44: Slower
66: Faster
7: Delete
9: Save
(#): Skip
6. Text a Landline
Sprint and Verizon provide text-to-landline services. Your text message is converted to a voice message and delivered. Just enter the landline number as you would a mobile number.
Sprint does not charge for the service; the message counts the same as any other. Verizon charges 25 cents per message. There is no charge to message recipients.
Kim Komando hosts the nation's largest talk radio show about computers and the Internet. To get the podcast or find the station nearest you, visit www.komando.com/listen. To subscribe to Kim's free e-mail newsletters, sign up at www.komando.com/newsletters. Contact her at gnstech@gannett.com.