Discover the Secret Field Test iPhone Mode
TUAW reader Randall Bennett sent us a link to this write-up he did about the iPhone's secret field test mode. To enter this mode, you must dial *3001#12345#*, that is star-3001-pound-12345-pound-star and tap Call. Your iPhone places you into the field mode shown here. You can even do this while on another call. Bennett says you just hit "add call", enter the code and tap Call--although I didn't try this multi-way calling out. So what information is available in field test mode? Quite a lot, as it turns out: network info, cell info, GPRS (primarily used for GSM digital cellular technology, hmmm!), PDP (packet data protocol, presumably), call information (handy if actually taking a call), and Versions--which amusingly has a misspelled Firmware ("Firware") version unless that's some technical term that I'm simply misunderstanding. Anyway, tap on Refresh to update the info or tap Home to return to your normal iPhone interface. Update: You can't store this sequence as a contact; sorry, it just doesn't work. You have to enter it by hand each time.
[Via MacOSXHints]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jonathan said 3:06PM on 7-12-2007
amazing what kind of discoveries you can do when you leave your iPhone where your kid can start dialing
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Johnny Thrash said 3:28PM on 7-12-2007
lol @1
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Rick said 3:45PM on 7-12-2007
Firware: permanent software stored in evergreen wood.
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brian said 3:58PM on 7-12-2007
Hysterical. Other than the punctuation, that code = my street address + the security/luggage combination from Spaceballs. That could almost be *my* password!
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stainboy said 3:59PM on 7-12-2007
no, it's "firware." Apple has been working on technology to harness nearby trees as part of the network. not useful in deserts, but very handy in heavily forested areas. imagine hiking through remote Wyoming and seeing four bars!
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Fabio P said 4:12PM on 7-12-2007
on the artice is an error. i didnt find a contact link.
anyway the article mentions that the "LCD Panel ID" seems unique to every iPhone. this is not true, since i've got the very same ID as in the screenshot on the page.
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Stevievep said 4:28PM on 7-12-2007
Nice. Worked like a charm, but wouldn't dial as a stored contact :( oh well.
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Fred said 4:36PM on 7-12-2007
It doesn't seem to work if you store it as a contact and then dial. It actually tries to dial the sequence.
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Mitch said 4:42PM on 7-12-2007
how in the world does someone figure something like this out??
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h8rain said 4:42PM on 7-12-2007
@4 That is soo funny you mention Spaceballs, because I was just listening to the theme on my iPod :)
I miss the Mel Brooks films.
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R031E5 said 4:47PM on 7-12-2007
Wasn't this the code to enter the admin mode in the first nokia ever made? Yeah I remember good 'ol times when setting a custom screen message was the biggest hack you could do to a cellphone.
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Chris Martin said 5:05PM on 7-12-2007
I went down to the att store and took a bunch of pictures of all the screens in the "Field Test Mode" (with my N95). They are all on my flickr stream if you're interested, starting here http://flickr.com/photos/cjmartin/790353557/
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GadgetGav said 7:44PM on 7-12-2007
What's "hmmmm" about GPRS..?? That's the 2.5G, EDGE, data network. We know it's got that.
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joel j said 10:04AM on 7-13-2007
That same sequence works on many Nokia GSM phones.
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mroach said 10:31AM on 7-15-2007
Haha. That's the same code to get into the extra special menus on old Nokia TDMA phones from way back in the day.
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Andrew said 8:51PM on 7-15-2007
I just tried it, is it supposed to say "Firware" or is that just a typo for "Firmware"
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