GSM Feature Codes

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If you own a GSM phone then there are several codes that can be entered to tell the network how to handle incoming calls and more. These codes are not really considered secrets, but they are poorly documented by service providers.

Not all codes given below are supported by all service providers, so there is no harm in trying a code -- you'll know which ones work and which ones don't by a confirmation or rejection message.

SMS Message Delivery Confirmation

Some GSM handsets have a built-in feature to let you know when your SMS message has been delivered, which may be a nice feature to have. Of course, it's also much more common on newer phones. If you're using a more recent handset, say, a newer Nokia or the latest Iphone 4, it's worth checking before using this workaround. If your handset doesn't support this or you wish to manually use this feature then prefix your outgoing message with 111 or *noti#, such as:

To: +1-250-555-1212

Message: 111Hey Steve -- give me a call ASAP

The recipient of the message won't receive the "111" or "*noti#" at the beginning of the message, but you will receive a confirmation that it has been delivered to their handset. Note that not all GSM networks support this feature (e.g., Fido in Canada supports 111, T-Mobile supports *noti#)

GSM Code Scheme and Passwords

Most of the codes given below follow this pattern. With enough use, you will learn to know what each means:

* activate
** register and activate
*# check status
# unregister
## unregister and deactivate

Some service providers will also let you change your passwords as follows:

Change Call Barring PIN code: **03*oldPIN*newPIN*newPIN#

Change SIM PIN code: **04*oldPIN*newPIN*newPIN#

If you have never set a PIN before, try the usual default of '0000', '1111', or the last 4 digits of your phone number. If none of these work then contact your service provider. Note that the PIN is not the same as the Call Barring [code] given in the Call Barring section below.

Call Forwarding

GSM supports four different types of Call Forwarding or Call Diversion. These are:

Forward all calls: Unconditionally forwards all calls made to your phone to another location, such as another phone number or voice mail. This setting, if activated, overrides all other types of conditional forwarding mentioned below.
Forward if busy/engaged: Forwards calls to another location if you are using your phone and you have either disabled call waiting or if you are in the process of making an outgoing call.
Forward if no answer: Will forward calls to another location if the call is not answered after a set period of time.
Forward if unreachable: Forwards calls to another location if the handset is off or outside a service area.

The table below gives the call forwarding codes. Hit [SEND] after any command. Some of these commands may be accessible on your handset's menu, but this varies between handsets and service providers.
[dest] refers to the destination number, if long distance remember to add the appropriate prefix codes; [sec] refers to the delay in seconds before forwarding the call. Minimum 5 Maximum 30 in 5 second increments only (i.e., 5,10,15,20,25, or 30; default is usually 15).

Feature	All Calls	Voice Calls	Data Calls	Fax Calls	Line 2 Calls
Forward all Activate: Cancel&Retain: Reestablish: Cancel&Forget: Status:	21[dest]# #21# 21# ##21# #21#	21[dest]11# #2111# 2111# ##2111# #21*11#	21[dest]25# #2125# 2125# ##2125# #21*25#	21[dest]13# #2113# 2113# ##2113# #21*13#	21[dest]89# #2189# 2189# ##2189# #21*89#
If busy Activate: Cancel&Retain: Reestablish: Cancel&Forget: Status:	67[dest]# #67# 67# ##67# #67#	67[dest]11# #6711# 6711# ##6711# #67*11#	67[dest]25# #6725# 6725# ##6725# #67*25#	67[dest]13# #6713# 6713# ##6713# #67*13#	67[dest]89# #6789# 6789# ##6789# #67*89#
If no answer Activate: Cancel&Retain: Reestablish: Cancel&Forget: Status:	61[dest][sec]# #61# 61# ##61# *#61#	61[dest]11[sec]# #6111# 6111# ##6111# #6111#	61[dest]25[sec]# #6125# 6125# ##6125# #6125#	61[dest]13[sec]# #6113# 6113# ##6113# #6113#	61[dest]89[sec]# #6189# 6189# ##6189# #6189#
If unreachable Activate: Cancel&Retain: Reestablish: Cancel&Forget: Status:	62[dest]# #62# 62# ##62# #62#	62[dest]11# #6211# 6211# ##6211# #62*11#	62[dest]25# #6225# 6225# ##6225# #62*25#	62[dest]13# #6213# 6213# ##6213# #62*13#	62[dest]89# #6289# 6289# ##6289# #62*89#
All 4 Activate: Cancel&Retain: Reestablish: Cancel&Forget: Status:	002[dest]# #002# 002# ##002# #002#	002[dest]11# #00211# 00211# ##00211# #002*11#	002[dest]25# #00225# 00225# ##00225# #002*25#	002[dest]13# #00213# 00213# ##00213# #002*13#	002[dest]89# #00289# 00289# ##00289# #002*89#
All conditionals Activate: Cancel&Retain: Reestablish: Cancel&Forget: Status:	004[dest]# #004# 004# ##004# #004#	004[dest]11# #00411# 00411# ##00411# #004*11#	004[dest]25# #00425# 00425# ##00425# #004*25#	004[dest]13# #00413# 00413# ##00413# #004*13#	004[dest]89# #00489# 00489# ##00489# #004*89#

Most people will arrange to forward their voice calls to a voice mailbox number. For Canadian Fido customers, you can enter the number "3436" (this spells FIDO) into the [dest] field and this will set the local voice mailbox access number automatically for you. If you are unsure what your local voice mailbox number is then contact your service provider.

GSM also supports call forwarding if you hit the end key on an incoming call. This is particularly handy if your phone rings and you either can't or don't want to answer it. Hitting the [END] key will automatically forward the caller to whatever number you have set up to forward to under the "forward if no answer" or "forward all". If you haven't set up call forwarding and hit the [END] key during an incoming call then your caller will hear an initial ringing tone followed by a busy or engaged tone.

Call Waiting

Activate: *43#
Cancel: #43#
Status: *#43#

To answer an incoming call waiting just hit the [SEND] key and your first caller will be put on hold and you can talk to the second caller. Alternatively you can hit [2][SEND].

To join both callers in a conference call, select the "join" or "conference" setting on your phone (not supported on all handsets).

If you wish to take the second call and are finished talking to the first caller then hit the [END] key and your phone will start ringing with the second caller and then hit [SEND] to answer the call. Alternatively you can hit [1][SEND].

If you do not wish to talk to the second caller and want to continue to talk to the first caller you can either choose to ignore the call waiting tone or hit [0][SEND].

Caller ID / Call Display

If you wish to either show or hide your phone number on outgoing calls then you may either set this on your phone's menu or manually enter the code before dialing. These codes will override whatever menu setting you have on a per-call basis.

Do not display: #31#[phone number]
Display: *31#[phone number]
Status: *#31#

North American GSM service providers also support the landline codes for this feature (these also work on CDMA and iDEN phones):
Do not display: *67[phone number]
Display: *82[phone number]

There are also codes to show or prevent incoming numbers from being shown on your handset if you subscribe to this feature. I'm not too sure why you'd want to do this, but just in case you do:

Do not display: #30#
Display: *30#
Status: *#30#

Call Barring

If you wish to restrict calls that can be made or received by your handset then this is referred to as "Call Barring". All Call Barring codes are specific to your network, so you'll have to ask your service provider what [code] to enter below:

Feature	All	Outgoing	Incoming	Outgoing International	Outgoing Intl except home country	Incoming outside home country
Activate: Cancel: Status:	*330[code]# ##330[code]# #330#	*333[code]# ##333[code]# #333#	*35[code]# ##35[code]# #35#	*331[code]# ##331[code]# #331#	*332[code]# ##332[code]# #332#	*351[code]# ##351[code]# #351#

Do Not Disturb

This particular feature is available from some North American GSM, CDMA, and iDEN providers:
Do not disturb: *78
Cancel: *79

Other Miscellaneous Codes

These have been collected from various sources and may be specific to certain networks only. Use at your own risk!

Minutes Used: #646# (646 spells 'MIN')
Own Number: *#100#
HLR number: *#101#
Switch number: *#102#
Network Time: *#103#
Voice mailbox number: *#104#
Switch number: *#105#
Last Caller: *#147#
Vodafone Prepaid balance: *#1345# or *174#


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