Special tips about making a phone call

 

Getting a cell phone for the first time involves learning a lot about the features common to most cell phones. Here is an overview of what you can do with a cell phone:

Special tips and facts:

A call begins with...: Unlike with a landline phone, a cell phone call begins at the moment you press the green "send" key, and you are charged from that moment, not when the person you are calling answers.

Last called numbers: You can generally redial one of the last 10 (or more) called numbers simply by pressing the green key ("send") with no number typed.

Use it like a scratchpad: The last dialed function is also an easy way to note a number when you are in a hurry. Simply type the number, press "send" then "end" right away and the number will be part of your last called numbers.

Antenna boosting: In bad signal situations, it's better to stand still in a good spot instead of moving around. Try turing on yourself. If the phone was hidden from the closest antenna by your head, it may perform better when facing a certain directions.

Volume control: You can usually adjust the volume of a call during a conversation with the up and down arrows usually located on the side of your cell phone. On some cell phones, there are no up and down arrows, but you can use the navigation button similarly. When not in a conversation, using the up and down arrows usually adjusts the ring volume.

speed dial: virtually all phones have speed dial, a function that lets you associate your closest contacts with one of the 10 keys of the keypad. When entering an entry in your phone book, there should be a function that lets you associate it with a speed dial key. Some cell phones simply associate the 9 first entries with keys 1 to 9. SpeedDial systems vary from phone to phone so check your owner manual on how to make a call using speed dial.

Phone lock: cell phones without a flip cover may sometimes be activated accidentally. Let's say you slip your cell phone in your pocket then reach for change and accidentally press the call button twice, it may call the last dialed number and incur airtime charges. One of the worst cases of that kind was the Motorola C330 series which often started the wireless web browser that way. Fortunately, there is a way to "lock" your keypad until you unlock it with a special code. The locking method varies so check your owner's manual under "phone lock" for instructions on how to do that with your phone.