Here Are 7 Great Freebies You'll Actually Use

May 31, 2009— -- Free iPods! Free TVs! Free money! Unfortunately, these online offers are almost certainly scams. I'm using the word "almost" because I haven't checked every single one.

They fall under the same rule we've all heard a thousand times: There is no free lunch. But there are legitimate freebies. Here are some that you may want to use time and time again.

Long-distance Calling

Long-distance calls can be costly. That's particularly true if you're calling international numbers. But you don't need to spend a dime on long-distance calling. The Talkster website gives you unlimited free long-distance to more than 30 countries.

Here's how it works. You enter your friend's long-distance telephone number. Then, you're given a telephone number for your friend that's a local call for you. You call your friend using the local number. Your friend answers. You have 10 seconds to give your friend a local number for him to reach you. Your friend calls you back using that local number and you talk for free.

You may hear a brief ad when placing a call. You'll also see ads while you talk.

Send Free Faxes With Your Camera Phone

Faxing and Copying

If you have a camera phone, you don't need a scanner or fax. You can make copies and send faxes directly from your cellphone!

With Qipit, you snap a picture of a document with your cellphone. Then, send the picture via e-mail or text message to Qipit.

The photo is optimized and converted to a PDF. A copy is e-mailed to you. You can also fax or e-mail the PDF. Just enter an e-mail address or fax number in the message body.

You can also use your digital camera. But you'll have to forward the picture from your computer. Qipit is free.

ScanR is a similar service. It lets you upload five photos per month. Unlimited paid plans start at $5 per month.

Carrier charges may apply. International faxing is supported by both companies.

Directory Assistance

Looking up telephone numbers online is easy. But you don't always have a computer handy.

That doesn't mean you need to pay for directory assistance. You can find numbers for free from any telephone.

1-800-GOOG-411 and 1-800-FREE411 are two free directory services. Google's service (GOOG-411) relies on voice recognition to find results. At FREE411, you get a person. However, you'll hear ads while you wait.

Promote Yourself, Check Your Credit for Free

Business Cards

If you're starting a business, you'll need business cards to promote yourself. Or, you may want calling cards to give to acquaintances.

VistaPrint and GigglePrint will give you 250 free, full-color business cards. Select one of a limited number of designs. Then, add your personal information. You must pay for shipping and processing.

The free cards carry the printer's logo on the back. You can remove the logo or customize your design. In that case, you'll pay for the cards.

Credit Reports

With identity theft rampant, you should keep tabs on your credit report. By law, you are entitled to one free credit report each year from each of the three main credit bureaus.

The official site for getting your reports is AnnualCreditReport. Look-alike sites may provide you with a free report, but they often have hidden catches.

I recommend staggering your reports. Get one every four months, each from a different bureau.

Watch Free TV on Your Own Time

TV

Want to watch television on your own schedule? Don't want to pay a monthly TiVo subscription? Then head to the Web. Many sites offer free programming. Hulu and Joost are among the biggest, but you'll find shows on other sites. For example, visit the networks' sites. You'll find video clips and, often, full shows.

Wi-Fi

Maybe you need to get online while you're traveling. Or, maybe you want to find a coffee shop where you can sip and surf.

Free Wi-Fi hot spots abound. Cafes, hotels and other public locations offer free Wi-Fi. In some cases, a purchase may be required.

JiWire and similar services will help you find free hot spots at home and abroad. Or, check with your cellular and high-speed Internet service providers. Many offer their customers free access at their hot spots.

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.