For instance, I’m on Jury Duty in the US this week. Kinda a freebie but I still have to call in and input my “ID” number, birthday, and zip code before entering phone tree options to hear my summons status. So I saved a contact in my phone for the jury hotline with the main number, my Id number, birthday, zip code, and menu option numbers all separated by a comma. Now when I dial using the saved contact, it will automatically enter everything in and I don’t have to fumble around and spend unneeded time to hear if I have to report.
This can easily be adapted for any automated phone system that you call frequently although you’ll have the best results when you have to enter in a long account number like at a bank.
YYSK: It’s a huge timesaver in the age of digital automation to use your phone to navigate phone tree menus
Huh. Apparently we justed needed to start a new platform to start dropping the real life pro tips. Seriously, where have you guys been keeping these??!?
Buried underneath “LPT: Being nice to others is free.”
My favorite was people clearly trying to rephrase popular posts for cheap upvotes
“LPT: Spending money is something you don’t have to do every day”
“LPT: wasting money is financially detrimental”
“LPT: Saving money is a good way to save money”
LPT: The first rule of tautology club is the first rule of tautology club.
Also just happens to be the rest of the rules too.
“LPT: Not spending money is a great way of saving money!”
“LPT: If I was your friend, you could invite me places”
You should mention that the commas just make the phone wait a second or two before continuing dialing.
For my work I have to press “1” then the extension number. But you have to wait for an opening message before it will allow you to press “1”
My contact for my workplace is <phone number>,1,<extension>
You’ll have to do some experimenting to get the delay right.
But now I can call work handsfree.
With every answering system having a 65 hour long COVID policy update added to their intro in both English and French (Canadian here), my number would have to look like
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,1
I believe a semi-colon means your phone waits to send the next string of numbers until you tell it to so you can still have everything queued up and just listen instead of trying to pre-program the timing
It’s a good tip, but nowadays a lot of apps accessing the contacts. Storing secured information on contacts is vulnerable. Please be mind it.
Just tested as I have to clock in and out at work by calling and entering my employee number and then pressing 1 or 2. It worked! I saved both as contacts “clock in” and “clock out”. That’s badass, thanks
Having a Pixel phone is always so great for calling these types of numbers. If it’s a popular enough number, it will show on the screen like text messages of all the # options as soon as it connects if it knows it. If it doesn’t it will still display voice to text so you don’t have to try and remember the best option. It will even “hold” for you and when someone picks up on the business’s end it will let them know you’ll pick up in a second and notify you. Sometimes it will even have info on the current average wait time.
It’s made calling companies so much nicer.
FYI, the comma comes from the old Hayes modem command language.
ATDTnumber,,option,optionATtention Dial Tone number pause pause option pause option
Each comma was about a 2 second pause. You can use multiple commas for longer pauses.
You can also automate those USSD menus (the menus that show up when you dial a specific number
For example
#[number here]*[menu option]#
So say if you had to dail #100# to get a menu and then type in 2 to recharge your credit youd type
#100*2#
For the Android dialer, hold the star (*) key to input the comma into your number.
