Free Cool Stuff - FREE 411!

If you're like me, when you need a number, you look it up on the internet because it's free. But what about when you are out and about and your cell phone is your only option? The idea of paying Sprint $1.79 (it's more expensive calling from a landline phone - $1.25 to $3.49 PER call!) for the 411 call irritates me, especially since sometimes the number I'm looking for turns out to be unlisted.

What's a girl to do?

FREE 411!

There are three services that I've recently discovered:

Free 411 - 1-800-FREE-411 (800-3733-411) is great, BUT you have to listen to an obnoxious ad at the beginning of the call. You can receive the number via both phone and text (your cell phone provider text message rates apply). Biggest benefit: Look up both business, residential, and governmental numbers.

Google 411 - 1-800-GOOG-411 (800-4664-411) is also great and has no ads. Again, you can receive the number via phone, text, and also receive a map of the neighborhood on your cell (if it has internet service). Unfortunately, it only looks up businesses. You cannot look up residential numbers. Biggest benefit: No ads.

411 Save - 1-800-411-SAVE (800-411-7283) - another ad supported directory assistance call. It looks up both businesses and residential numbers and you can receive your number either via phone or text message. Biggest benefit: You speak to a live person!

I've already got both numbers programmed into my cell phone. The days of me paying Sprint for a phone number are long gone.