USSD

USSD - it's a funny acronym. Unstructured Supplementary Service Data. You type a code into your phone's dialler. - the phone queries the network and displays some information for you.

There are five types of USSD Command

Activate - turn on the functionality: *USSD#
Deactivate - turn off the functionality: #USSD#
Register - set a particular condition: **USSD#
Erase - delete any settings set by Register: ##USSD#
Interrogate - check what it is doing: *#USSD#

Universal USSD Codes

I can't find a definitive list of commands, so this is my scratch-pad for all the ones I've found which should work on all GSM networks.

Divert all Calls (21)

If you don't want you phone to ever ring, you can divert it to voicemail or some other number.
Forwarding: **21*DESTINATION_NUMBER#
Activate: *21#
Deactivate: #21#
Delete: ##21#
Check Status: *#21#

DESTINATION_NUMBER should be in international format. So if you want to divert to your landline of 020 7946 0123, you would dial it as
**21*+442079460123#
Divert When Call Not Answered: 61
Divert When Phone Unreachable: 62
Divert When Phone Busy: 67

Caller ID (30 & 31)

Sets whether your phone displays caller ID information and whether it sends it to others.

30 - Incoming caller ID presentation
31 - Outgoing caller ID

Activate: *31# or *30#
Deactivate: #31# or *30#
Check Status: *#31# or *30#


Call Barring (33 & 35)

Sets whether your phone bars incoming or outgoing calls.

33 - Call barring (outgoing)
35 - Call barring (incoming)

Activate: *33# or *35#
Deactivate: #33# or *35#
Check Status: *#33# or *35#


Call Waiting (43)

Sets whether your phone alerts you when you've got a call waiting.

Activate: *43#
Deactivate: #43#
Check Status: *#43#


Vodafone UK Specific USSD Codes

The Betavine site has a list of USSD codes which only work on Vodafone UK.

Resources Used

• The Unwired
• Treo Central
• Cellular Online