Phone Phun

If you're an information junkie, you can get your fix with your mobile phone and 4INFO. This free service uses SMS text messages to bring you the latest and greatest from whatever you're interested in. Since it uses the humble text message format, you don't need a "smart phone" to use it (does that mean you can use a "dumb phone?"). You can check airline flight status information, posts on Craigslist, weather information, or even program listings from TV Guide.

All you need to do is to register with 4INFO at their website–they do need your phone number, after all–and go from there. Sign up for alerts to be sent to you, or with some services like the TV listings, you can send a text message from your phone and get an answer in real time telling you when and where you can catch the next episode of "Dancing With Whoever We're Dancing With".

4INFO is a free service. As with all text messaging services, you are responsible for your provider's fees.

Do you have so much time on your hands that you can afford to spend minutes (or hours or days) on hold waiting for "the next available representative"? (After all, you know your call is important to them.) If so, we salute you, but for the rest of us, it would be nice if we could designate a "pinch hitter" to sit there waiting for them to pick up.

Lucyphone is a service that is designed with this in mind. To get them to line up for you, just visit their site and register for a free account. Now when you need to make that dreaded call, just pick the number you're calling off their list and make your call. Once you're connected, you can just hang up. when your call finally gets answered, Lucyphone calls you back and you're immediately connected with the folks you're calling. Meanwhile, you haven't been sitting there with a phone jammed against your ear, and just maybe you've accomplished something during what otherwise could be your day's biggest waste of time.

Lucyphone is a free service. Getting your life back is pretty sweet, too.