Cell phone tricks

skysidhe · 01-24-2009, 09:29 PM

Very interesting. I am curious to see if anyone will test them out. I know you debunkers will be curious.

1. In Case of Emergency - The worldwide Emergency Number for mobiles is 112. Even if you find yourself out of the coverage area of your mobile network and you dial 112, the mobile will search any existing networks to establish the emergency number for you. Interestingly, this number can be dialed even if the keypad is locked.

2. Lock Your Keys in the Car? - If your car has a remote lock/unlock device (and you have a second one, say at home - aside from the one on your keychain that's locked inside the car) you can call someone at home on their cell phone from your cell phone, hold your phone about a foot from your car door, and have the person at home press the unlock button on the device, holding it near the mobile phone on their end. Your car will unlock. Distance is no object. You could be hundreds of miles away, and if you can reach someone who has the other remote for your car, you can unlock the doors.

3. Secret Battery Power - Imagine your cell battery is very low, you are expecting an important call, and you don't have a charger. Nokia phones come with a reserve battery. To activate it, press the keys *3370#. Your cell will restart with this reserve, and show a 50% increase in battery. This reserve will get charged when you charge your cell next time.

4. Disabling a Stolen Phone - To check your mobile phone's serial number, key in the following digits on your phone: * # 0 6 #. A 15-digit serial code will appear on the screen. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe. If your phone gets stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless.

Crimson Ghost · 01-24-2009, 10:47 PM

Sorry, sky.

--------------------------

Things You Never Knew Your Cell Phone Could Do

By David Emery, About.com
See More About:

* cell phones
* remote keyless entry

Netlore Archive: Email flier purports to clue readers in on various 'unknown' tips and tricks for cell phone use

Description: Email flier
Circulating since: Sep. 2005 (multiple versions)
Status: Mostly false

Email example contributed by Greg M., 15 February 2007:

THINGS YOU NEVER KNEW YOUR CELL PHONE COULD DO.

There are a few things that can be done in times of grave emergencies. Your mobile phone can actually be a life saver or an emergency tool for survival. Check out the things that you can do with it:

FIRST
Subject: Emergency
The Emergency Number worldwide for Mobile is 112. If you find yourself out of the coverage area of your mobile; network and there is an emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly this number 112 can be dialed even if the keypad is locked. Try it out.

SECOND
Subject: Have you locked your keys in the car?
Does your car have remote keyless entry? This may come in handy someday. Good reason to own a cell phone: If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys are at home, call someone at home on their cell phone from your cell phone. Hold your cell phone about a foot from your car door and have the person at your home press the unlock button, holding it near the mobile phone on their end. Your car will unlock. Saves someone from having to drive your keys to you. Distance is no object. You could be hundreds of miles away, and if you can reach someone who has the other "remote" for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the trunk). Editor's Note: It works fine! We tried it out and it unlocked our car over a cell phone!"

THIRD
Subject: Hidden Battery Power
Imagine your cell battery is very low. To activate, press the keys *3370# your cell will restart with this reserve and the instrument will show a 50% increase in battery. This reserve will get charged when you charge your cell next time.

FOURTH
How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone?
To check your Mobile phone's serial number, key in the following digits on your phone: * # 0 6 # A 15 digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe. When your phone gets stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless. You probably won't get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can't use/sell it either. If everybody does this, there would be no point in people stealing mobile phones.
And Finally...

FIFTH
Cell phone companies are charging us $1.00 to $1.75 or more for 411 information calls when they don't have to. Most of us do not carry a telephone directory in our vehicle, which makes this situation even more of a problem. When you need to use the 411 information option, simply dial: (800) FREE 411, or (800) 373-3411 without incurring any charge at all. Program this into your cell phone now. This is the kind of information people don't mind receiving, so pass it on to your family and friends.

Comments: Beware forwarded emails offering esoteric tips and tricks "you never knew." Most of the claims in this message are either false or have limited applicability. Let's examine them one by one:

1. The worldwide emergency number for cell phones is 112.
Not quite. Throughout most of Europe and a few countries outside of the EU, dialing 112 will connect users to local emergency services. However, the number won't work in North America, nor most of Asia and Africa. Many, but not all, cell phone models will allow special emergency numbers to be dialed even if the phone lacks a SIM card or the keypad is locked.

2. Unlock a car door with your cell phone and a spare remote key.
False. As discussed previously in these pages, cell phones and remote keyless entry systems work on entirely different radio frequencies. Therefore, cell phones are incapable of re-transmitting the signal from a remote key to unlock a car door.

3. Press *3370# to access 'reserve battery power.'
False. On some Nokia phones, users can punch in special codes and toggle between speech codec modes to 1) enhance voice transmission quality at the cost of diminished battery performance, or 2) enhance battery performance by decreasing voice quality. Apparently, some users have misconstrued the latter as "tapping into reserve battery power." On that score the email is doubly erroneous because *3370# is the code for enhancing voice quality, so using it actually decreases battery life!

4. Press *#06# to disable a stolen cell phone.
Not exactly. On some cell phone models, but not all, pressing *#06# will cause the phone's 15-digit International Mobile Equipment Identity to be displayed. Some service providers, but not all, can use that information to deactivate the handset. In any case, it isn't necessary to supply an IMEI number to cancel your cellular account in the event of theft; simply call your provider, give them the appropriate account information, and tell them the phone was stolen.

5. Make 411 calls on your cell phone without charge by dialing (800) FREE 411.
Basically true, though cell phone users may still incur a charge for minutes used, depending on the specifics of their plan.

----------------------------

I use Free 411 frequently.
It's worth it.

skysidhe · 01-26-2009, 12:00 AM

Would #2 be something a blond would try or a budding genius? I would try it.

I would! If even for fun.

Now as for the rest I would not be curious enough to try but obviously someone did 'in the name of science' ha!

It's ok ghost....someone had to do it.

Crimson Ghost · 01-26-2009, 02:45 AM

#2 would be a technological breakthrough.

Shawnee123 · 01-26-2009, 11:20 AM

Things way too many people didn't know their cell phone could do:

1) Shut off

That's it.

lumberjim · 01-26-2009, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

Things way too many people didn't know their cell phone could do:

1) Shut off

That's it.

::HIGHFIVE::

01-24-2009, 09:29 PM	#1
skysidhe ~~Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.~~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 6,828	Cell phone tricks Very interesting. I am curious to see if anyone will test them out. I know you debunkers will be curious. 1. In Case of Emergency - The worldwide Emergency Number for mobiles is 112. Even if you find yourself out of the coverage area of your mobile network and you dial 112, the mobile will search any existing networks to establish the emergency number for you. Interestingly, this number can be dialed even if the keypad is locked. 2. Lock Your Keys in the Car? - If your car has a remote lock/unlock device (and you have a second one, say at home - aside from the one on your keychain that's locked inside the car) you can call someone at home on their cell phone from your cell phone, hold your phone about a foot from your car door, and have the person at home press the unlock button on the device, holding it near the mobile phone on their end. Your car will unlock. Distance is no object. You could be hundreds of miles away, and if you can reach someone who has the other remote for your car, you can unlock the doors. 3. Secret Battery Power - Imagine your cell battery is very low, you are expecting an important call, and you don't have a charger. Nokia phones come with a reserve battery. To activate it, press the keys 3370#. Your cell will restart with this reserve, and show a 50% increase in battery. This reserve will get charged when you charge your cell next time. 4. Disabling a Stolen Phone - To check your mobile phone's serial number, key in the following digits on your phone: # 0 6 #. A 15-digit serial code will appear on the screen. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe. If your phone gets stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless.

01-26-2009, 02:45 AM	#4
Crimson Ghost Larger than life and twice as ugly. Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,264	#2 would be a technological breakthrough. __________________ We must all go through a rite of passage. It must be physical, it must be painful, and it must leave a mark. I have no knowledge of the events which you are describing, and if I did have knowledge of them, I would be unable to discuss them with you now or at any future period. Don't waste your time always searching for those wasted years

01-26-2009, 11:20 AM	#5
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	Things way too many people didn't know their cell phone could do: 1) Shut off That's it. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

01-24-2009, 10:47 PM	#2
Crimson Ghost Larger than life and twice as ugly. Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,264	Sorry, sky. -------------------------- Things You Never Knew Your Cell Phone Could Do By David Emery, About.com See More About: * cell phones * remote keyless entry Netlore Archive: Email flier purports to clue readers in on various 'unknown' tips and tricks for cell phone use Description: Email flier Circulating since: Sep. 2005 (multiple versions) Status: Mostly false Email example contributed by Greg M., 15 February 2007: THINGS YOU NEVER KNEW YOUR CELL PHONE COULD DO. There are a few things that can be done in times of grave emergencies. Your mobile phone can actually be a life saver or an emergency tool for survival. Check out the things that you can do with it: FIRST Subject: Emergency The Emergency Number worldwide for Mobile is 112. If you find yourself out of the coverage area of your mobile; network and there is an emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly this number 112 can be dialed even if the keypad is locked. Try it out. SECOND Subject: Have you locked your keys in the car? Does your car have remote keyless entry? This may come in handy someday. Good reason to own a cell phone: If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys are at home, call someone at home on their cell phone from your cell phone. Hold your cell phone about a foot from your car door and have the person at your home press the unlock button, holding it near the mobile phone on their end. Your car will unlock. Saves someone from having to drive your keys to you. Distance is no object. You could be hundreds of miles away, and if you can reach someone who has the other "remote" for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the trunk). Editor's Note: It works fine! We tried it out and it unlocked our car over a cell phone!" THIRD Subject: Hidden Battery Power Imagine your cell battery is very low. To activate, press the keys 3370# your cell will restart with this reserve and the instrument will show a 50% increase in battery. This reserve will get charged when you charge your cell next time. FOURTH How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone? To check your Mobile phone's serial number, key in the following digits on your phone: # 0 6 # A 15 digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe. When your phone gets stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless. You probably won't get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can't use/sell it either. If everybody does this, there would be no point in people stealing mobile phones. And Finally... FIFTH Cell phone companies are charging us $1.00 to $1.75 or more for 411 information calls when they don't have to. Most of us do not carry a telephone directory in our vehicle, which makes this situation even more of a problem. When you need to use the 411 information option, simply dial: (800) FREE 411, or (800) 373-3411 without incurring any charge at all. Program this into your cell phone now. This is the kind of information people don't mind receiving, so pass it on to your family and friends. Comments: Beware forwarded emails offering esoteric tips and tricks "you never knew." Most of the claims in this message are either false or have limited applicability. Let's examine them one by one: 1. The worldwide emergency number for cell phones is 112. Not quite. Throughout most of Europe and a few countries outside of the EU, dialing 112 will connect users to local emergency services. However, the number won't work in North America, nor most of Asia and Africa. Many, but not all, cell phone models will allow special emergency numbers to be dialed even if the phone lacks a SIM card or the keypad is locked. 2. Unlock a car door with your cell phone and a spare remote key. False. As discussed previously in these pages, cell phones and remote keyless entry systems work on entirely different radio frequencies. Therefore, cell phones are incapable of re-transmitting the signal from a remote key to unlock a car door. *3. Press 3370# to access 'reserve battery power.'** False. On some Nokia phones, users can punch in special codes and toggle between speech codec modes to 1) enhance voice transmission quality at the cost of diminished battery performance, or 2) enhance battery performance by decreasing voice quality. Apparently, some users have misconstrued the latter as "tapping into reserve battery power." On that score the email is doubly erroneous because 3370# is the code for enhancing voice quality, so using it actually decreases battery life! 4. Press #06# to disable a stolen cell phone.** Not exactly. On some cell phone models, but not all, pressing #06# will cause the phone's 15-digit International Mobile Equipment Identity to be displayed. Some service providers, but not all, can use that information to deactivate the handset. In any case, it isn't necessary to supply an IMEI number to cancel your cellular account in the event of theft; simply call your provider, give them the appropriate account information, and tell them the phone was stolen. 5. Make 411 calls on your cell phone without charge by dialing (800) FREE 411.* Basically true, though cell phone users may still incur a charge for minutes used, depending on the specifics of their plan. ---------------------------- I use Free 411 frequently. It's worth it. __________________ We must all go through a rite of passage. It must be physical, it must be painful, and it must leave a mark. I have no knowledge of the events which you are describing, and if I did have knowledge of them, I would be unable to discuss them with you now or at any future period. Don't waste your time always searching for those wasted years

01-26-2009, 12:00 AM	#3
skysidhe ~~Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.~~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 6,828	Would #2 be something a blond would try or a budding genius? I would try it. I would! If even for fun. Now as for the rest I would not be curious enough to try but obviously someone did 'in the name of science' ha! It's ok ghost....someone had to do it.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)