Aaah I see, a 'cell phone' is a mobile phone.

Anyway, its not uncommon nowadays for mobile phones to be accidentally activated and phone someone up. Sometimes repeatedly, in the middle of the night. And of course the phone is in a pocket or somewhere, so the recipient is unable to contact the caller. Although this hasn't happened to me, I imagine it is particularly annoying.

I propose a new standard for mobiles, where if the phone originates a call, it can be made to vibrate or ring by dialling a number at the receiving end. Obviously the number has to be a standard and memorable, to give people a chance of knowing what to dial. A number or about 3 digits (which is not currently used for any other purpose, such as emergency services) would fit this purpose.
-- Loris, Sep 12 2007

Would this be somehow louder than just calling them back?

This could be misused if you just want to annoy the caller. I hate it when I don't quite press answer, and the phone rings again next to my ear.
-- marklar, Sep 12 2007


Yeah, "Cell Phone" is what we Yanks use where you Brits use "Mobile Phone". A "Mobile Phone" over here is a cordless handset for a land line. (Although this is changing.)
-- Galbinus_Caeli, Sep 12 2007


//Would this be somehow louder than just calling them back?//

Not louder, but possibly more successful. You may not be able to call back - if the number is withheld, or lost by network-network connections, or the phone is locked from receiving calls.
And you may not want to call back if you don't recognise the number. And it would certainly be cheaper.
-- Loris, Sep 12 2007


This has happened to me. Texting the inadvertent miscreants did the trick in stopping the calls.
-- DrCurry, Sep 12 2007


Baked, at least here in the U.S. *69 will return a call from whence it came.

Not, however if the number is withheld or the phone is locked from receiving calls, But the idea specifies no way around those situations either, unless we're just assuming that you will be able to return a buzz to those numbers.
-- Noexit, Sep 12 2007


//But the idea specifies no way around those situations either, unless we're just assuming that you will be able to return a buzz to those numbers.//

In that case I wasn't clear enough, because it does.
*While the call is still in progress* call the number. The other phone recognises the tone series and activates its alert (which will probably be vibrate and/or a special ringtone)
-- Loris, Sep 12 2007


Thats funny, why would anybody call a cell phone a mobile phone? Cell phones are referred to as such because geographic areas are divided into "cells" from which specific towers transeive, therfore the term "cell phone".
-- evilpenguin, Sep 12 2007


//*69 will return a call//

Looks like some warped sense of humour exists in the U.S.
-- Ling, Sep 12 2007


Ah, the phenomena referred to as "pocket-dialing".

I finally had to lock my keys to cease the calls my phone would make of it's own volition. Usually to my boss or my fiancee.
-- normzone, Sep 02 2008



random, halfbakery