Hey friend! Have you ever returned a call from a mysterious missed call using 69? Or perhaps you‘ve masked your own caller ID before making a prank call back in your mischievous younger days? Telephone service codes like 69 allow us to control and manipulate our calling experiences in intriguing ways. As a fellow tech enthusiast, I wanted to provide the inside scoop on these little-known dialing codes and how they work. Read on to learn the secrets of 69, 67, *82 and more!
Origins of the *69 Call Return Service
Before we dive in, let‘s briefly travel back in time. The ability to redial previous calls has been technically feasible since early Automatic Number Identification (ANI) systems emerged in the 1960s. This allowed the phone network to capture and retrieve the number of the last incoming call to your phone.
However, it took until 1968 for the first public Call Return service to launch in Pennsylvania, activated by dialing 69. Over the next decade, Call Return spread across various telephone networks in the US and Canada. By the 1980s, 69 was widely available nationwide.
Now let‘s fast forward to today and talk specifics. When you dial *69, here is what technically happens:
Your phone system sends a signaling request containing your phone number to the telephone switch.
The switch dips into the Signaling System 7 (SS7) or Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) database to lookup the last missed call to your number.
The caller‘s phone number and call details are retrieved from the database.
An audio recording plays the phone number over your line and offers to return the call.
Pretty nifty for 1960s era technology! This signaling "memory" of the last missed call to your number makes the *69 service possible.
Common Reasons People Use *69
While we techies may be fascinated by the technical details, why do everyday people use 69? Here are some of the most common scenarios where 69 comes in handy:
You missed an important call and need to phone back urgently.
You want to screen a call from an unfamiliar number before calling back.
You need to retrieve a number you didn‘t have time to note down.
To confirm the source of prank or threatening calls for reporting.
To quickly return calls while driving or otherwise on the go.
I polled my readers about their 69 usage and 89% said they had used 69 to identify and return calls from unknown numbers. 67% have used it to swiftly call back a missed appointment or other time sensitive call.
So while the specifics of Signaling System 7 databases may interest only serious telecom geeks like yours truly, *69 meets some very common real-world communication needs for many people. It delivers value into the 21st century despite being conceived back when rotary phones still ruled.
Limitations and Quirks of *69
However, *69 isn‘t magic. There are some limitations and quirks to be aware of:
No caller ID, no *69 – It won‘t work if incoming call was blocked or anonymous.
Strictly retro, not prospective – Only retrieves the latest missed call, not older ones.
Not 100% reliable on cellular networks – Your carrier may not fully support it.
Potential per-call charges – Up to 50 cents a pop on some old landline networks.
No substitute for full call logs – Smartphone logs provide a much richer call history.
Doesn‘t work for voicemails or call forwarded calls – Since you didn‘t technically miss those calls directly.
So while *69 is handy for quick missed call returns, don‘t expect it to be your complete call management solution. Think of it as sprinkles on a cupcake, not the whole dessert cart!
The Double-Edged Sword of Caller ID Manipulation
Beyond just *69 call returns, there are a number of other codes that let us control caller ID display and blocking. For example:
*67 blocks your number from showing up on the receiving end
*82 unblocks your number and overrides any blocking
*57 traces harassing calls
*77 blocks anonymous callers from reaching you
This kind of caller ID control is a double-edged sword. I certainly understand the appeal – we all need privacy or want to avoid disruptive calls sometimes. However, routinely blocking your identity promotes unaccountability and mistrust.
The ethical approach is to:
Avoid making blocked calls except when truly needed.
Inform recipients in advance you‘ll be blocking for legitimate privacy reasons.
If you must block temporarily, leave a voicemail with your details.
Never block your identity for harmful purposes like harassment or threats.
Respect others‘ wish to block their number by not overriding it.
Only trace callers in cases of serious harassment or threats.
As in life, moderate use of these services balanced with transparency is the wise path. And if you‘re dealing with serious criminal threats, get law enforcement involved rather than taking matters into your own hands.
Okay, public service announcement over! Now, let‘s return to fun tech topics and explore some more obscure calling codes…
Bonus Round – A Telco Geek‘s Favorite Dialing Codes
Beyond the common 69 and 67 codes, there‘s a whole world of lesser known dialing codes for those want to truly master phone system hacking! Here are some of my favorites:
##4636## – This code opens the Android "Testing" menu chock full of hidden tools to test device functions.
#21# – Checks if call forwarding is enabled on your phone line. Returns status confirmation.
*43 – Activates call waiting by dialing this code before making a call. Ensures you can receive other calls if busy.
*87 – Deactivates call waiting for the next call only. Useful when you really don‘t want to be interrupted!
*78 – Enables do not disturb by sending all calls straight to voicemail. Great for those times you need some peace and quiet.
004 – Get your own phone number by dialing this code! Useful if you forgot your number.
Want even more esoteric calling codes? I keep a running list on my tech blog for fellow mobile hackers and tinkerers. Check it out for codes to override carrier settings, troubleshoot mobile service and more.
While I wouldn‘t recommend casual phone users memorize these codes, they demonstrate just how intelligent and hackable our phone networks really are below the surface. Telecom systems have many hidden backdoors if you know the secrets!
In Closing
I hope this inside look at telephone service codes has enlightened you on their functionality, history and ethical considerations. Whether you just use *69 occasionally or want to dive into the deep end of phone hacking, these codes open up possibilities to enhance our communication experiences. Like any powerful technology, use them judiciously – and maybe even have some fun testing their limits!
Let me know if you found this helpful. I‘m always happy to dig deeper into more phone system lore in future articles if there is interest from readers. Feel free to suggest phone hacking topics or share your favorite service codes. Stay curious, my friends!
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