Did You Know Your Cell Phone Could do This?!

I received a list of 5 things your cell phone can do from my dad of all people. (He is usually not a place I gather information on technology!) A few of these I knew about - like using your phone to unlock your car - but the battery saving feature and the free *411 calls were new to me.

Note: This list has been going around the Internet with incorrect information. I have updated it to include CORRECT information. Please comment if you think otherwise. Have a Nokia phone? Here is a list of tips just for you: Nokia Tips.

#1

Emergency
The Emergency Number worldwide for Mobile is 112. (Note: Worldwide yes, in the US, just dial 911) This will work on a cell phone that is locked or does not have paid service. If you have an old phone you don’t use anymore, please donate it to a women’s shelter. They give them to battered women to use in emergencies.

#2

Have you locked your keys in the car?
Does your car have remote key-less entry? This may come in handy someday. 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).

Note: I don’t think this will really work seeing that cell phones and key fobs use totally different transmission types. I don’t need it anyway since I can just call OnStar Think otherwise? Comment and I’ll update if you can prove me wrong.

#3

Hidden Battery Power
Imagine your cell battery is very low. (Probably not hard to imagine.) To activate, press the keys *4720# (NOT #3370* as other reports state, this will increase call clarity at the expense of battery power!) and your cell will restart. This will not work on all types of cell phones. (jemmille.com Note: I have an LG Chocolate and this doesn’t work on mine.) This isn’t actually a power reserve it just places your phone in half-rate codec mode, which decreases sound quality, but does save lots of battery power.

#4

How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone?
To check your Mobile phone’s serial number, key in the following digits on your phone:

*#06# digit code will appear on the screen (in some, but not all phones). This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe. If your phone is stolen, call 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 can also just call them and have them disable your number until you find or get a new phone. This is a bit easier I think. (jemmille.com Note: Your serial number can ALWAYS be found under the battery on a sticker.)

#5

Free Directory Service for Cells
Cell phone companies charge $1.00 to $1.75 or more for 411 information calls. Most of us do not carry a telephone directory in our vehicle (but you should), 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. (Note: You will still incur your usual per minute charges but the directory service is in fact free.)

This was updated with some information from here.

One last thing…If you do have an LG Chocolate and you got it right when they came out, then your phone doesn’t have the speakerphone option. Take it to any authorized Verizon store and they will update your firmware. You can do it yourself with a few tricks if you want to take the chance. Learn how here.