Most of us own, and use, cellphones daily. Lives are dependent on this invention. No. Kidding.
Without it, we are lost. We are possibly useless. Some rely on its calendar reminders. Others, without watches, use it to find out the time. Most embrace the contact list to reach out to the world.
Further, the phones can map out your day and assist in anything from finding an address, getting there, and texting and tweeting.
So what happens when you have an emergency? When you accidentally lock your keys in your car? (Yes, it happens, but luckily, my car will beep if my keys are inside the vehicle). When you need directory assistance, and unknowingly pay for that service? When you (gulp) lose your phone or if (bigger gulp) someone steals it.
The cellphone likely can help you in more ways than you probably know. These five “hows” are invaluable.
1 — Emegency calls
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
2 — Car keys locked in the car
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).
( Note: It works fine! We tried it out and it unlocked our car over a cell phone!’)
3 — Hidden battery power
Imagine your cell battery is very low. To activate, press the keys *3370#. Your cell phone will restart with this reserve and the instrument will show a 50 pe rent increase in battery. This reserve will get charged when you charge your cell phone next time.
(Note: some testing this say it doesn’t always work. Depends on the phone?)
4 — Disabling a stolen mobile phone
To check your Mobile phone’s serial number, key in the following Digits on your phone: *#06# .
A 15-digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe.
If your phone is 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.
5 — Free directory service call
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) FREE411 or (800) 373-3411
without incurring any charge at all. Program this into your cell phone now.
Note: “Help data” provided by the Halton Police Retirees Assn. of Canada; opening text/commentary by yours trulyy.
Suggestion: print this out, save it in your wallet/purse, share with anyone with a cellphone.