Do you wonder what GSM codes are? GSM is the abbreviation for Global System for Mobile Communications. This standard defines various codes with which you can control phones which implement this standard. For example, you can configure call forwarding and other similar options too. In this article we will look at call forwarding only. You can control lots of other features with GSM codes, which I will discuss in a later post.

These are the GSM codes of interest, if you need to divert calls on your phone:

1. **21*a phone number#  – to register a phone number and activate the diversion of all calls to this number.
2. *21# — to activate divert all calls function (supposed you already have registered a phone number in the past).
3. #21# — to deactivate divert all calls.

You can enter these codes through the Phone’s keypad. Just open the phone application and tap on the Keypad tab. Enter **21*a phone number# to register a phone number to which you want to forward incoming calls. When you register a phone number, that will also activate call diversion. With the code #21# you can deactivate call diversion.

If you are like me you have every chance of forgetting to deactivate the forwarding function. Therefore, it might be a good idea to set an alarm in the clock application to remind you of turning off call diversion.

The next time you need to divert incoming calls, it is enough to enter the code *21#, as the number is already registered. If you need to divert to a different number you certainly can register a new number.

As I am not good in remembering GSM codes I have installed shortcuts in the address book. This is how you can do it:

• Open the contact to whom you want to divert the call to.
• Tap on the Edit button and select Add new Phone.
• Enter the GSM code together with the number you want to forward calls to (e.g. **21*08150815#).
• Press on the label beneath the phone field to add a custom field (Press Edit on the Label view, then select Add Custom Label).
• Do the same steps once more to add a phone number which will deactivate the divert all calls function.

This is how you can use GSM codes to forward calls to another phone. Look through the list I have linked to for further useful GSM codes. For example, there are GSM codes with which you can hide your caller id when making phone calls. Check the Quick Tip category in the coming days. I will write another short post about the caller id soon.

This application does exactly what its name implies. It works like a real baby phone. When your little one starts crying, BabyFon will call the number you have denoted in the settings. You can also define the sensitivity. This will prevent the application from causing a false alarm, when your baby just coughs or turns around in bed while sleeping.

In our homes we do have two sets of baby phones. One set is the best rated baby phone on Amazon, yet it does not work satisfactorily. Our dwelling is surrounded by other buildings which block the baby phone’s signal when we are farther away than 50 meters from our home. The excellent Italian restaurant is 200 meters away, though. No signal there. No such problem in the case of the iPhone with BabyFon running on it. Just start the application and lay the phone in the room where your baby sleeps. If your sweet little one starts to cry you will get a call immediately. You can listen and decide whether you need to rush home or can stay and enjoy your bruschette.

You need to make sure, however, that you divert incoming phone calls on the iPhone running BabyFon. An incoming call will interrupt BabyFon and you won’t get a call afterwards.