Things you never knew about your cell phone

Everyone has a cell phone these days, right? You’ve probably had one for years now. But I’m willing to bet that there are several things you still don’t know about your cell phone.

These tips and tricks are circulating online, but we thought we’d list them for you here as well. They’re good points of reference and could help you in emergency situations. Print this information out, share it with your family and friends, and keep it handy. You just might need it one day.

1. Emergency number. The emergency number worldwide for mobile phones 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. Hidden battery power. If your cell battery is very low, press the keys *3370#. Your cell phone 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 phone next time.

3. 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.

4. Free directory service. Cell phone companies are charging us $1 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 and you won’t incur any charge at all. Program this into your cell phone now.