I decided this would be a good thread for those of us like me who have to have access to anything helpful AND free. I'll start the list with a few things I know off, and hopefully people will add to it.

First of all, Google SMS is EXTREMELY useful for many things, including a virtual yellow pages. It's free but requires text messaging... so that will affect your text message plan. Basically you text "Google" (466453) with your input, for example weather 95501 and you will receive the weather for that zip code. You can also text Verizon 95501, or Verizon Eureka, CA, etc and receive their listing... phone number and address. Same with movies, maps, sports, translations, conversions, etc. For a full list go to http://www.google.com/intl/en_us/mobile/sms/.

Free 411. There are two of these that I know about. The first is the original, 1-800-Free-411... which is exactly what it says... and the other is (surprise surprise) Google again, which is 1-800-466-4411. I use Google which is fully automated and can send you a text message with the info as well as connect you if you like. For free!

Another thing I find helpful is many states have road conditions available by phone. You just call a number and tell the automated system a highway number, and it will tell you if there are any delays or other problems like lane closures. For California it is 800-427-7623... for Oregon it is 800-977-6368. Those are the only two I have in my phone, but you can go to your State Transportation website and they may have this option available also.

Next is a somewhat older company which is amazingly still free, called Tellme. You call 1-800-555-TELL and follow the menu. They have options like Sports, Business Search, Travel, Movie Times, etc. The information from some options can be text to you also. It has many of the same options as Google Text, but voice based. And guess what, it also has a text option! Text 83556 (TellM) and you can do a business search. Go to www.tellme.com for more information... although unfortunately the website doesn't do it justice... I would recommend you just call and mess around with it.

And for one last thing, the NOAA National Weather Service has "Dial-A-Forecast" available in most regions that allows you to call in and get a detailed, audible forecast of your area... and in my experience this is always the best, most definite forecast available. I use it because I live in a rural area in Northern California and the weather is a pretty important thing around here. Go to this website and find your phone number: http://www.weather.gov/pa/recordedforecasts.php

LoL alright well if I left anything out (beside the Rejection Hotline which I'll post if you want lol) please add to this list.