worth knowing about Mobile Phones

[chrisy]

Here is something worth knowing if you have a mobile phone ....
> >
> >
> > Have you ever wondered why phone companies don't seem interested in
> > trying to prevent the theft of mobile phones? If you have ever
> > lost, or had
> > one stolen, and if you are on a plan, you still have to pay the
> > plan
> > approximately up to 24 months, and you have to buy another handset
> > and
> > enter into another contract. This is more revenue for the phone
> > company.
> > There is a simple way of making lost or stolen mobiles useless to
> > thieves and the phone companies know about it, but keep it quiet.
> >
> >
> > To check your mobile phone's serial number, key in the following on
> > your phone: star-hash-zero-six-hash ( * # 0 6 # ) and a fifteen
> > digit code
> > will appear on the screen. This is unique to your handset. Write it
> > down and
> > keep it safe. Should your mobile phone get 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 did
> > this, there would be no point in stealing mobile phones. May want
> > to
> > send this to as many people with mobiles as possible
> >
> >
> > No charge for directory assistance - Phone companies are charging
> > us
> > $1.00 or more for 411 - information calls when they don't have to.
> > When you
> > need to use the 411 / information option, simply dial
> > 1-800-FREE-411 or 1 800
> > 373 3411 without incurring a charge.
> >
> >
> > This is information people don't mind receiving - Pass it on. Works
> > on
> > home phones and cell phones.
> >
>
>

 

[mdmdogs3]

only partly true -
see this - http://www.snopes.com/crime/prevent/celltheft.asp

 

[anniecowgirl]

If you have a Verizon Wireless cell phone and you type in 46645 in a text and type in business listing, zipcode, etc....google will send you back a message with the information and its only 10cents...or if you have a text package its included....

Google SMS on internet will give you more info....

 

[Hippie Rancher]

Hey thanks!

The part about information seems to be true.

From Snopes:

The way it works in practice is that a caller who requests a business number is first presented with a short (about 12 seconds) audio advertisement for a sponsor who operates a competing business in that area; the caller is then given the option of being connected to either that competitor or the business he originally requested. If no sponsor operates a local competing business, then the caller hears no advertisement at all. (In the latter case, if the caller accepts the option to connect to the desired number, the business receiving the call hears a short message at the beginning advising them that the call was placed via Free-411, and a Free-411 salesman may follow up with them a few days later to solicit them as a potential advertiser.)

(Cell phone users concerned that taking advantage of the free directory assistance service will entail potentially giving out their cell phone numbers to telemarketers should note that federal law already prohibits certain types of telemarketing calls from being placed to cell phones, and all phone users can block telemarketing calls by listing their numbers with the national Do Not Call registry.)

 

[chrisy]

only partly true -
see this - http://www.snopes.com/crime/prevent/celltheft.asp

wasn't sure if it was so, but it was sent to me by a Policeman Friend of mine in the US, it does not apply to me here in England, so I thought I would post it, as I thought it might have some credability, comeing from the source it did.