Five free cell phone features

       Photo: CNN

Five free cell phone features.

You can't get any more thrifty than free.

Cell phones have become an appendage in our world today. Everyone has a cell phone, from children to senior citizens. They serve a wide range of roles in our lives — from the necessities — contacting family and responding to business calls, to the convenient — checking the local movie schedule and maps with step by step directions, to the extreme — turning your phone into a Kindle, compass, and level, to use in an emergency — contacting 911. 

The price of service varies based on our preferred amenities. However, each cell phone has five free features you may not even know exist. Features that range from life saving to an emergency survival tool to just plain convenience.

1) Emergency number worldwide - 112
If you find yourself out of the coverage area of your cell phone network and there is an emergency, dial 112 and the cell phone will search any existing network to establish the emergency number for you. In addition, 112 can be dialed even if the keypad is locked. Try it out.

2) Unlock your car if you have remote keyless entry
Have you ever locked your keys in the car? Does your car have remote keyless entry? If you lock your key in the car and the spare key is at home, call someone at home on his or her cell phone from your cell phone. Hold your cell phone about a foot from your car door and have the person at your home hold the remote near his or her cell phone, and press the unlock button. Your car will unlock. Distance is irrelevant — you could be hundreds of miles away. If you can reach someone who has a remote for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the trunk). Try it.

3) Hidden battery power
Have you ever been in a situation where your cell battery is very low and you need to make a call? Good news, your phone has hidden battery power. To activate the hidden battery power, press *3370#. Your cell phone will restart with this reserve and will show a 50% increase in the battery. This reserve gets charged the next time you charge your cell phone. Try it.

4) Disable a stolen cell phone
It is important to know your cell phone serial number. To find it, key in the following on your cell phone: *#06#. A 15-digit code will appear on the screen. This serial number is unique to your phone. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe. If your phone is taken, you can contact your service provider and share this number. The provider will then block your phone so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be useless. You may not get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever has it can't use it. Try it.

5) Free directory service
You pay a fee to call 411 from your cell phone. To call 411 for free, simply dial: (800)FREE411, or (800)373-3411. It may take a little more time to get the number you need…but remember this service is free. Program this number into your cell phone now. Try it.

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