UNIVERSITY PARK — Open your cell phone bill and check the charges. You've probably been nickeled and dimed.

We went looking for ways to stretch your dollar and found an easy way to avoid extra charges for those expensive 411 calls.

In case you didn't know, a mobile phone call to information can cost $1.50 or more. That adds up fast.

Instead of calling 411, try this:

Send a text message to 46645, which goes to Google; or to Yahoo at 92466.

Standing outside the CVS drug store at Snider Plaza, we typed the name of the store into a text message. After a few seconds, the number is sent back in reply.

We found it works much better on smartphones, like Blackberry and iPhones.

Texting rates do apply, but it is a much cheaper way to quickly get information.

"I'm gonna save that in my phone," said one woman we talked to.

"I didn't even know I was paying for it," another woman said.

There are also 800 numbers you can call for free information if you don't want to type in your request:

• 1-800-411
• 1-800-GOOG-411
• 1-800-411-METRO

Again, you'll be billed for airtime with a mobile phone, but many wireless plans offer unlimited minutes during evening hours and on weekends.

E-mail dschechter@wfaa.com.