Cheat the System: How to Have a Fully Functional Smartphone Without a Monthly Bill

Grant J. Kidney — Cell phone companies are a big rip off no doubt. Most people pay anywhere from $60-$120 per month in cell phone bills. At a time when the world economy is imploding and folks are finding it difficult just to put a meal on the table for their children, that extra $60-$120 each month could certainly come in handy.

Believe it or not, there is a way to have a free, fully functioning smartphone without having any monthly bills. This neat little trick is 100% legal and requires just one initial investment of around $200 (for an iPod Touch).

Things you will need

• An Apple iPod Touch (4th generation)
• A ‘Google Voice’ account
• An app for your iPod called ‘Talkatone’
• An existing cell phone number

Google Voice, a FREE phone service

Once you’ve purchased your iPod Touch, go to google.com/voice and sign up for an account. Google Voice offers free phone service to anyone living in the United States. Users may talk and text without limitations as well as have access to voice mail.

To sign up with Google Voice, you will need an already existing cell phone number. Once registered, Google Voice will then issue an alternative phone number that when dialed, will ring through to your existing number.

Turn your iPod Touch into a fully functional iPhone

iPod Touch, 4th Generation

Next, download an app to your iPod Touch called ‘Talkatone’. Talkatone is the best Google Voice app available. After downloading, open the app and sign in with your Google Voice login credentials. Once this step is complete, you will have effectively turned your iPod Touch in to a fully functioning iPhone! Go head and talk and text whenever you and as often as you want without worries, obligations, and monthly bills!

Only one little drawback

There is but one drawback to this rather ingenius technique- you will only be able to talk, text, or browse the web when within wifi range. For some people, this is good enough. Others will require a cheap, ‘pay as you go’ phone for quick or emergency calls when outside of wifi range.

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