When getting things done involves making phone calls, you want to spend the least amount of time and money as possible. Several tricks and services can help you do just that.

10. Avoid the cost of calling 411 with GOOG 411

Instead of just calling 411 to get information (and an extra charge on your phone bill), Google by voice by calling 1-800-GOOG-411 to get a street address or phone number.

9. Get out of annoying calls and meetings with SorryGottaGo.com sounds and the Popularity Dialer

Interrupt a long phone call, meeting, or bad date with two interesting services: SorryGottaGo.com offers a myriad of sounds you can play while you're trapped on an endless phone call that give you the perfect excuse to hang up. Along the same lines, you can schedule an interrupting call with the Popularity Dialer an incoming calling service that can make you seem "in demand."

8. PayPal money via voice call

Call 1-800-4PAYPAL (1-800-472-9725) to send money on the spot. (Your phone must be activated on your PayPal account for this to work). Here's more on how to send and receive money via phone with PayPal.

7. Email yourself reminders, blog, and set Google Calendar appointments by phone with Jott

"Do everything you'd ever want from the phone" service Jott supercharges your ability to leave yourself a reminder voicemail. Jott will transcribe your voicemail to self and email it to you, as well as post to your blog, add events to your Google Calendar, and more. Here’s how to get things done over the phone with Jott.

6. Avoid annoying calls with a custom silent ringtone

If your cell phone supports per-caller ringtones, selectively silence the low-priority incoming calls with a dead air ringtone. Here's how to make a ringtone from any MP3 on your mobile.

5. Ring all your phones from one number with GrandCentral

Set up a free GrandCentral number that can ring all your phones at once from one number, or selective phones based on the caller. GrandCentral's got scads of neat customized phone features; here’s how to consolidate your phones with GrandCentral.

4. Skip the greeting and get right to the beep with one keypress

Long voicemail greetings are tedious to sit through, but on many services, specific keypresses can skip you right to the beep. Hit 7 or # to bypass that long greeting, and save time and money.

3. Name that tune

Dying to know what song that is playing on the car radio? Call 866-411-SONG and hold your phone up to the speakers. Just 15 seconds (and a small fee), and 411 SONG will send you a text message with the song name and artist. (This only works on cell phones with SMS capabilities.)

2. Swear like a sailor to skip directly to a human operator

An Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system can make you navigate an endless menu of options, put your potty mouth to good use. But some IVR's are programmed to listen for naughty words and speed you along to human help when they hear them.

1. Trick automated phone bots into thinking your line's dead

If you've got automated phone marketers or political campaigns or debt collectors ringing your phone at all hours, trick the system into thinking your phone's dead. Add the U.S. Special Information Tone signal for "vacant circuit" to the beginning of your voicemail greeting to automatically unsubscribe your phone number from bot call lists.