I need your help

On 3.16.10 I was happily riding in the back of a cab who was driving kind of fast and my friend and I were a bit worried. We weren’t very comfortable with the experience. The moment we got into downtown Austin, we decided to jump out by a sidewalk instead of an official drop off location. I had grabbed my wallet to offer to pay… and then my friend shelled out the cash instead. We jumped out… and at that moment, my phone fell to the floor of the cab.

I noticed when I was a block away from the car.

And when I ran back, the car was gone. I opened the doors of multiple cab cars, but I didn’t write down the cab number when we left.

Dang it.

So Yellow Cab says they might look around for it and contact me. I finally got to talk to someone in a person who works in the lost and found department on 03.18.10 who was pretty sure I’m doomed to never see my phone again. [But just in case Yellow Cab folks: I left a voicemail with your lost and found. I told you how we asked to be picked up from Sheplers to the Downtown Austin Hilton. Our driver may remember making a scary swerve around a pothole and then I talked to him about how I had heard Austin had its first snow in five years this winter.]

I work in the web world. I need to get online now (actually yesterday)… and I can’t afford another iPhone or Nexus. (Which I’m getting a lot of recommendations online to move to the Nexus… I’d love to hear your thoughts)

SO I’m following Clay Shirky’s advice to get the village to help me. Please help! I need my phone back.

Austin and all of SXSW! Please help!

My phone looks like this (except I’m certain it’s run out of power – I checked on Mobile Me). It’s a 32gb iPhone 3GS with a black Mophie:

I love my phone – not as much as my beautiful kids and awesome husband. But I love my phone because it lets me do my work while taking my kids to fun stuff like piano and swimming lessons.

Please help!!!!! Thanks in advance!

-Jen Reeves

If you find anything – leave a message on my Google Voice: 573.238.8882 or talk to my husband if he answers (he’s not happy with me at all).

UPDATE 03.19.10
I’ve had a few conversations with Austin Yellow Cab and it’s pretty clear they’ve had no luck finding my phone. They aren’t going above and beyond to search for the specific cab driver who had it… But I know the woman I spoke to has checked the current lost and found items. We discussed how easy it is for a person to take my phone, plop in a new SIM card and continue with life as if it’s their own phone. So… Today I bought my own SIM card and plan to dig up an old original iPhone and try to deal with my lack of 3Gs enjoyment. (I’ll miss @foursquare and @gowalla and the simplicity of shooting video with my phone.)

I did start a non-official crowdfunding attempt with my Facebook friends. I’m welcoming donations of 50 cents per person who is my Facebook friend. I feel pretty strange asking for anything from my friends, but I feel like $.50 isn’t much of an intrusion and if it gets me to the point where I can actually afford a replacement iPhone (or Nexus). I’m not very comfortable looking for donations from strangers, so I’m not posting a PayPal Donate button for now!