Pocket Dialing
Encyclopedia
Pocket dialing refers to the accidental placement of a phone call while a person's mobile phone
in the dialer's pocket
or handbag
. The recipient of the call typically hears random background noise when they answer the phone. If the caller remains unaware, the recipient will sometimes "overhear" (or record) whatever is happening in the caller's vicinity. A pocket-dialed call can continue for many minutes, or until the recipient's voice mail system ends the call.
; a consequence of this is that people whose names begin with letters near the beginning or the end of the alphabet sometimes receive more accidental calls.
The keypad
lock found on most mobile phones is designed to help prevent accidental dialing. However, it is still possible to forget to activate this lock (if the phone does not automatically activate the lock after a timeout), or to deactivate it accidentally. Many phones still allow the emergency number to be called even when the keylock is active.
Accidental calls are often cited as being one of the more annoying consequences of cell phone usage. Given the haphazard nature of inadvertent dialing, most actual connections do not result from the selection of random numbers. Instead, pocket dialing frequently triggers the "recently dialed" and "speed dial" lists that are contained within modern cell phones. The caller is frequently unaware that the call has taken place, whereas the recipient of the call often hears background conversation and background noises such as the rustling of clothes. Due to the dialing of common numbers, the recipient is likely to know the caller ID or recognize the voices (or realize what incidents are being discussed) when overheard in background conversations.
Accidental calls, if not hung up immediately, tie up the recipient's phone line. If this is a landline, the recipient may not be able to disconnect the call in order to use the phone.
, such as 911
and 999
report receiving many false alarms that are likely a result of pocket dialing. These nuisance calls can result in a drain on operators' time, particularly during summer months, which is possibly due to an increase in roller coaster ridership. As many as 50% of emergency calls may be accidental calls. On many older phones in the United States
, pushing and holding down the number '9' key will cause the phone to automatically dial 911. In many regions, the operators must spend time and resources to determine whether the call is real or accidental. The phone calls often sound similar to the sorts of struggles people have while being involved in an actual emergency
.
Many mobile phones will allow dialing the emergency number even when the keypad is locked, which poses a particular problem if the number is easy to dial accidentally (e.g.: 999
, 000
). On some phones, while the keypad is locked or the phone is protected by a password, dialing the emergency number will be mapped to a soft key
and shown on the display, generally requiring only two button presses to dial. This problem is often exacerbated by soft keys and "OK" or "Accept" buttons generally being located near each other physically. Ironically, phones with these characteristics may be significantly more prone to pocket dialing of emergency services when they are locked.
Accidental emergency calls are even more likely if the user has programmed the emergency number into the phone's contacts or speed dial
.
has touted their phones' resistance to inadvertent pocket dialing as being an advantage of certain flip phone
models—specifically the Blackberry Pearl Flip
.
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
in the dialer's pocket
Pocket
A pocket is a bag- or envelope-like receptacle either fastened to or inserted in an article of clothing to hold small items. Pockets may also be attached to luggage, backpacks, and similar items...
or handbag
Handbag
A handbag, or purse in American English, is a handled medium-to-large bag that is often fashionably designed, typically used by women, to hold personal items such as wallet/coins, keys, cosmetics, a hairbrush, pepper spray, cigarettes, mobile phone etc....
. The recipient of the call typically hears random background noise when they answer the phone. If the caller remains unaware, the recipient will sometimes "overhear" (or record) whatever is happening in the caller's vicinity. A pocket-dialed call can continue for many minutes, or until the recipient's voice mail system ends the call.
Causes
Typically, the call is caused by objects in a person's pocket or bag poking buttons on the phone. Because of typical sequences of button presses, the accidentally dialed number is usually one that has been recently called from that phone, or one near the beginning or end of the phone's contact listContact list
A contact list is a collection of screen names in an instant messaging or e-mail program or online game or mobile phone. It has various trademarked and proprietary names in different contexts....
; a consequence of this is that people whose names begin with letters near the beginning or the end of the alphabet sometimes receive more accidental calls.
The keypad
Keypad
A keypad is a set of buttons arranged in a block or "pad" which usually bear digits, symbols and usually a complete set of alphabetical letters. If it mostly contains numbers then it can also be called a numeric keypad...
lock found on most mobile phones is designed to help prevent accidental dialing. However, it is still possible to forget to activate this lock (if the phone does not automatically activate the lock after a timeout), or to deactivate it accidentally. Many phones still allow the emergency number to be called even when the keylock is active.
Consequences
In addition to the inconvenience and embarrassment that may result from an erroneously dialed number, the phenomenon can have other consequences including using up a phone user's airtime minutes.Accidental calls are often cited as being one of the more annoying consequences of cell phone usage. Given the haphazard nature of inadvertent dialing, most actual connections do not result from the selection of random numbers. Instead, pocket dialing frequently triggers the "recently dialed" and "speed dial" lists that are contained within modern cell phones. The caller is frequently unaware that the call has taken place, whereas the recipient of the call often hears background conversation and background noises such as the rustling of clothes. Due to the dialing of common numbers, the recipient is likely to know the caller ID or recognize the voices (or realize what incidents are being discussed) when overheard in background conversations.
Accidental calls, if not hung up immediately, tie up the recipient's phone line. If this is a landline, the recipient may not be able to disconnect the call in order to use the phone.
Accidental calling of emergency services
Operators of emergency services telephone numbersEmergency telephone number
Many countries' public telephone networks have a single emergency telephone number, sometimes known as the universal emergency telephone number or occasionally the emergency services number, that allows a caller to contact local emergency services for assistance. The emergency telephone number may...
, such as 911
9-1-1
9-1-1 is the emergency telephone number for the North American Numbering Plan .It is one of eight N11 codes.The use of this number is for emergency circumstances only, and to use it for any other purpose can be a crime.-History:In the earliest days of telephone technology, prior to the...
and 999
999 (emergency telephone number)
999 is an official emergency telephone number in a number of countries which allows the caller to contact emergency services for urgent assistance....
report receiving many false alarms that are likely a result of pocket dialing. These nuisance calls can result in a drain on operators' time, particularly during summer months, which is possibly due to an increase in roller coaster ridership. As many as 50% of emergency calls may be accidental calls. On many older phones in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, pushing and holding down the number '9' key will cause the phone to automatically dial 911. In many regions, the operators must spend time and resources to determine whether the call is real or accidental. The phone calls often sound similar to the sorts of struggles people have while being involved in an actual emergency
Emergency
An emergency is a situation that poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or environment. Most emergencies require urgent intervention to prevent a worsening of the situation, although in some situations, mitigation may not be possible and agencies may only be able to offer palliative...
.
Many mobile phones will allow dialing the emergency number even when the keypad is locked, which poses a particular problem if the number is easy to dial accidentally (e.g.: 999
999 (emergency telephone number)
999 is an official emergency telephone number in a number of countries which allows the caller to contact emergency services for urgent assistance....
, 000
000 Emergency
Triple Zero is the primary national emergency number in Australia. The Emergency Call Service is operated by Telstra a condition of its telecommunications licence, and is intended only for use in life-threatening or time-critical emergencies...
). On some phones, while the keypad is locked or the phone is protected by a password, dialing the emergency number will be mapped to a soft key
Soft key
A soft key is a button flexibly programmable to invoke any of a number of functions rather than being associated with a single fixed function or a fixed set of functions. A soft key is often located alongside a display device of a portable device such as a cellular phone, where the button invokes a...
and shown on the display, generally requiring only two button presses to dial. This problem is often exacerbated by soft keys and "OK" or "Accept" buttons generally being located near each other physically. Ironically, phones with these characteristics may be significantly more prone to pocket dialing of emergency services when they are locked.
Accidental emergency calls are even more likely if the user has programmed the emergency number into the phone's contacts or speed dial
Speed dial
Speed dial is a function available on many telephone systems allowing the user to place a call by pressing a reduced number of keys. This function is particularly useful for phone users who dial certain numbers on a regular basis....
.
Marketing usage
A mobile phone advertising campaign by T-MobileT-Mobile
T-Mobile International AG is a German-based holding company for Deutsche Telekom AG's various mobile communications subsidiaries outside Germany. Based in Bonn, Germany, its subsidiaries operate GSM and UMTS-based cellular networks in Europe, the United States, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
has touted their phones' resistance to inadvertent pocket dialing as being an advantage of certain flip phone
Mobile phone form factors
Mobile phones are designed with one of a variety of different form factors, depending on its functionality or aesthetic considerations.-Bar:A bar phone takes the shape of a cuboid. It is named because of its resemblance to a candy bar in size and shape...
models—specifically the Blackberry Pearl Flip
BlackBerry Pearl
The BlackBerry Pearl is a smartphone developed by Research In Motion the first BlackBerry device with a camera and media player. It was originally released on September 12, 2006...
.