It sounds like an interesting idea. I set up a page for family members to send text messages, since we all use US Cellular. You choose the family member from a drop down list, type in the message and click send, and the message is sent via US Cellular’s web site, for free.

Doing a cell phone directory would involve people voluntarily listing their cell phone number. Right now the cell phone companies do not want telemarketers to annoy cell phone users because it will drive away business, and the cell phone service providers have the legal upper hand since anytime you call someone’s cell phone you are using their resources, and doing so for commercial reasons, without permission is illegal. With more and more cell phone service providers switching to unlimited this or that (we currently get unlimited nights and weekends) the legal barrier may be lifted and cell phone users may find themselves barraged by telemarketers. The regular phone company charges extra for an unlisted number. Cell phone are automatically unlisted.

In the end a list like seems like it wouldn’t be very affective because it would A. allow anyone access to your number and B. not be guaranteed to have the number of the person you’re wanting. I know that I wouldn’t want my number listed on such a service, even if it were free. I’d be too leery of unwanted calls.

I’ve found out that getting people to pay for something online takes an amazing amount of draw and appeal. I got complaints from people who used SpelChek, because I had ads on the free version. Ironic, considering it is the only service on the entire internet that provides free spell checking on your own message board, without requiring someone to copy and paste the corrected text from another site.