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Are Nokia capable of amusement?

14 replies · 3,426 views · Started 17 January 2007

Feeling somewhat frustrated that I couldn't display my own phone number on the N80, I decided that probably the wisest course of action would be to contact nokia direct and see if perhaps I didn't miss that little snippet while flipping through the comprehensive user guide... Perhaps others can relate some intriguing stories of their own...

As follows: (bits snipped for privacy, and to keep the snapping mods at bay)

[Feedback:Hi, I purchased a Nokia N80 in the Philippines, I'm wondering if there is a menu option that will allow me to view my own phone number. (I threw away the sim card documentation a long time back)]

Their answer, somewhat predictable.

In response to your enquiry, please be advised viewing of "My Own Number" is not supported on the Nokia N80. Furthermore, there are no options or settings on the phone that will allow you to view your phone number. To find out your phone or SIM card number, please contact your network provider.

Feeling a touch irritated at their automated 'palm this silly little problem off to someone else' reply, I wrote back:

Hi, that seems a little unfortunate given that it is effectively a
computer capable of some seriously cool things. Perhaps you might
forward this concept to your technical staff - it'd be a really common
sense idea to include this tidbit of information in the next firmware
update rather than tell the very people that put money in your pocket
each week to go seek out their service provider instead. Perhaps it's
just wishful thinking on my part, though, you know, for 25,000 peso I
would rather like my smart phone to be able to actually be a little
smart and show me my own number. (I'm not angry at at all, just
mystified, somewhere along the way someone within Nokia decided to end
this function, I can't think of a valid reason for doing so. Probably it
was a single nerdy geek wearing a white lab coat - I bet he told his
manager it was a dumb idea to remove it too!!!)

Also, I don't suppose you might pull a few strings in your department
for me and get the screen resolution on the N95 bumped up to be the same
as the N80? I could probably swing you a case of Summit clear
(carbonated) sparkling mineral water in return - it's sugar free and
comes in a wide variety of very tasty flavors!!! (You know you want it!)

Finally, I haven't found anywhere in the Philippines that sell bluetooth
GPS modules that I might use with my N80-(modified to an N80IE because
it's way more socially acceptable) You wouldn't know if that kind of
thing would be available from any of your outlets in GreenBelt (or
Glorietta) by any chance?

Thanks kindly. And remember the sparkling cool mineral water!!! (I'll
keep it just between you and me, mom's the word. Promise)

Thinking that would illicit a bewildered 'Er, sorry, we can't help you', or even a slight chuckle - they go and fully ignore my stupidity with yet another serious form letter response:

With regard to your feedback, please note that we do take into account that the requirements of our customers may differ and have forwarded your feedback to the appropriate departments. (Sure you did!) We place a great deal of importance towards the level of commitment required by our customers to have their concerns addressed.

However, please note that the screen resolution a Nokia phone supports is model dependant. There are no options available to change the screen resolution or the feature a Nokia phone supports.

In regard to a compatible wireless GPS module, please note that the device the Nokia N80 supports is the Nokia LD-3W Wireless GPS Module. In regard to its availability, we would suggest to contact your local Nokia dealership for further assistance.

Nokia then went on to provide phone numbers for their 'Technical Support Executives' so I called them up and tried many selfless acts of bribery to get them to tell me my cell phone number 'right now'. They pretty much said 'WTF' after I queried whether their neck ties matched their executive leather recliners or socks (because it makes a difference), then declined to communicate with me further, though they did say that, if it wasn't too much trouble, might I drop a slab of summit off anyway thankyou very much.

It was a slow day I guess...

First of all, a GSM phone does not store/have the number anywhere on the phone. The phone does not need the number for making or receiving calls, or sending/receiving messages.

Secondly, a SIM card can store the number, but most network operators do not put the number on the SIM (because it is not needed to make or receive calls, etc.).

Some network operators may support "codes" that makes the network show the number. Not all operators do, and there's no standard that all adhere to so that it is the same code.

And, indeed, there is no facility on the phone to find out the number, because their it is not stored on the phone, and very seldom on the phone, so there is no reliable way for implementing such a feature (i.e., it would rarely work, and if it was a feature, most people would be unhappy with it).

So, the best way for you to find out the number is to call another phone or send somebody an SMS. If you are not allowed to make calls or send messages (out of credit or haven't paid your phone bill, for example), then you can call the operator's customer service (using some other phone, naturally), give them your name and other details they require (like reading the SIM card's serial number, a.k.a., IMSI, that is printed on the SIM card) and ask them to tell you what the phone number is.

hillarious... 😊

i have a contact called "Me"... I sooo agree that it would seem like ...urm.. a smart feature..

Is this information definetly not stored in the SIM? if it isnt then guess they cant do much, shame...

You must have made a few people at Nokia laugh!

ut.

N/A wrote:

And, indeed, there is no facility on the phone to find out the number, because their it is not stored on the phone, and very seldom on the phone, so there is no reliable way for implementing such a feature (i.e., it would rarely work, and if it was a feature, most people would be unhappy with it).

Actually you are wrong on this point, there is a way to display your sim number

Contacts > options > sim contacts > sim directory > options > my numbers

That will display your sim phone number 😊...

Hope that helps 😊

I find it quite amusing that nokia dont know about this feature, and also in another post they say that you cant upgrade an N80 to N80IE because there are differences with the hardware, and yet Nokia have released information saying that you can upgrade the software ...is it a case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing, or incompetence... I know which one I think it is 😉

hmm.. call me a bit daft but try calling another number and look to see what comes up 😊

Unless your number is not transmitted by the network it should come up 😊

Cash wrote:Actually you are wrong on this point, there is a way to display your sim number

Contacts > options > sim contacts > sim directory > options > my numbers

That will display your sim phone number 😊...

Hope that helps 😊

I find it quite amusing that nokia dont know about this feature, and also in another post they say that you cant upgrade an N80 to N80IE because there are differences with the hardware, and yet Nokia have released information saying that you can upgrade the software ...is it a case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing, or incompetence... I know which one I think it is 😉

That's the way to do it, i tried and indeed it showed my number, but not only that, it also showed my fax number and my video number, which are different from my 'normal' number. Although when i make a video call, the other party sees my 'normal' number, not the number showed as 'video' number. I didn't know that my SIM has actually 3 numbers. Anyone knows why?

I take it you are on three?

If so then it is the way they used to provision the cards

The fax number and the video number dont really do anything.

If you originated from the T mobile network waaaaay back then you have to use the video number on sim rather than the one u ported in.

Its to do with the HLR's setup.

IIRC T mobile dont have a fully functioning 3g network so they cant action on the packet data access request when the signal is sent there 😊

So that call has to be routed through Three's own network rather than bounced backwards and forwards as is the way with ported numbers.

Cash wrote:Actually you are wrong on this point, there is a way to display your sim number

Contacts > options > sim contacts > sim directory > options > my numbers

That will display your sim phone number 😊...

Hope that helps 😊

I find it quite amusing that nokia dont know about this feature, and also in another post they say that you cant upgrade an N80 to N80IE because there are differences with the hardware, and yet Nokia have released information saying that you can upgrade the software ...is it a case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing, or incompetence... I know which one I think it is 😉

Heh, doesn't work for me. I guess it isn't programmed in to my phone/sim. I had a k700i once that would tell you your number from a menu.

You could also change that number in a setting somewhere in the phone. I figure though, much like the Active Standby, someone could make a program that displayed your number on screen at all times.

Personally I just remember my number :tongue:

knuckleskin wrote:Heh, doesn't work for me. I guess it isn't programmed in to my phone/sim. I had a k700i once that would tell you your number from a menu.

You could also change that number in a setting somewhere in the phone. I figure though, much like the Active Standby, someone could make a program that displayed your number on screen at all times.

Personally I just remember my number :tongue:

if you have the option to view your number and it doesnt come up I guess its the sim thats not programmed to show that ..

and yes I remember my number also, just helping the guy out who asked the question 😊..

😊 Thanks for all the replies. I do (now) have a contact called 'Me' though from previous Nokia phones it was most definitely a feature. knuckleskin, SE definitely has the right idea in that usually you hit one of the volume keys on the standby screen and it pops up a bunch of info including the phone number assigned to the SIM.

I should probably mention that I'm in the Philippines using Globe and Smart, they do program the number on their SIM cards as a matter of course, though you know, the amount of times I've been signing my life away in a corner store and they ask for a phone number - I really should just remember it.

Ratkat wrote:On Vodafone UK you can type *#100# then send to reveal your phone number

As far as I know this works on all Vodafone networks. Vodafone NL supports it as well.