Hi, I would like to figure out a way to get a text message alert when
a certain person emails me. I don't mind if I have to combine software
or services (that are free or really cheap) or whatever, so long as
when person A emails me, I get a text notification.

I have gmail. I thought perhaps even if there is another service that
does it I can forward my gmail there? so long as a copy is still kept
in my gmail inbox.

I have a certain email address that I want to receive alerts about,
not all of them.

I cannot use mobile web on my cell phone so I can't check my email from there.

Greetings!
What you are looking to do is actually pretty easy in Gmail.

The first thing you want to do is login into your gmail account.  In
the upper right hand corner you will see a link to "settings".  Click
on that link.

On the settings page, click on the "Filters" tab.

You will see a set of text boxes that you can fill in.  Put the email
of who you wish to have forwarded to your cell in the "From" box and
click "next".

On the next page, put a check next to the box that says "Forward it
to:" and type the email address you want the messages sent to.

Finally click "Create Filter" and you are done!

If you need help find the email address for your phone please let me
know which service you have.

Some phones will truncate the message sent to conform to a certain
number of characters.  If this happens, it'll still provide you with
the notification you are looking for as well as a brief preview of
what the message is about.

If you need anything cleared up, please request a clarification before
rating my answer and I will be happy to help.

Best,
djbaker-ga

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Request for Answer Clarification by leeeeenz-ga on 18 May 2006 14:53 PDT

Hi; I am a bit confused. I know how to make a filter, but I don't
understand how to make this send to my cell phone. I do not get mobile
web on my phone. Is there a certain email address for my phone, so
that if I put in an email address in the "forward to:" box it will
instead send an email to my phone?

I have a verizon LG vx3100 phone.

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Clarification of Answer by djbaker-ga on 18 May 2006 15:15 PDT

Greetings!
Any verizon cell phone which is capable of recieving text messages is
also capable of recieving emails.  The email address for your verizon
cell phone is:

10-digit@vtext.com

So for example if your cell phone number is (212) 456 - 7685 your
cell's email address would be

2124567685@vtext.com

I checked and your phone does support text messaging so it should be
fine.  I used the technique I described above to send messages to my
phone when I was in the middle of an ebay auction and it worked great.

Best,
djbaker-ga

Orange have a free service that does this, check with your cell service provider