How to enter "pause" character in contact phone#?

[taa1]

I'm attempting to set up a contract entry to automatically dial my home voice mailbox, put in my mailbox number, do the "#" etc., but I need to be able to do a pause in the dialing sequence. Here's what I've tried:

xxx-xxx-xxxx,1,#,yyyyyyyyyy#,zzzzzz#

Where x's are for the mailbox service phone#, y's are my home phone# and z's are the pin#. The G1 put in the dashes for me.

When I touch the contact to have it dial, I see:

USSD code running....

"Connection problem or invalid MMI code."

[LGSilva]

you're getting the errors because of the "#" symbols

did you try to put +1 in front of the number?

[taa1]

Thanks for the prompt reply!

If I change to:

+1xxx-xxx-xxxx,1,#,yyyyyyyyyy#,zzzzzz#

I get the same error(s).

Any ideas on what else I could try?

[MrGibbage]

On my RAZR you inserted a "W" or a "P" for a wait or a pause. I wonder if there is something analogous to that.

[obijohn]

To insert a pause, open the keyboard and type a "," (comma) for a pause. The more commas, the longer the pause.

You can also use the keyboard to enter phone numbers that advertise as words, like 1-800-BUY-4EVER (when you press the letter key, the associated number appears in the dialer window).

[K.Krstnsn]

ya i think the error is cause of the "#"'s.

my banks telephone banking requires #'s after the account number. it errors out.

then, i have this preset deal that gives me the condiotions on the mountain passes. the code goes 511,1,3,90,1,5 aand it works fine.

so if youre having the same troubles, i assume its the "#"s. i hope there will be a chaange to that as now i cant do ant telephone banking or banking via androids browser. so its pretty irritaiting.

[taa1]

To insert a pause, open the keyboard and type a "," (comma) for a pause. The more commas, the longer the pause.

So I'm doing it correctly then.



You can also use the keyboard to enter phone numbers that advertise as words, like 1-800-BUY-4EVER (when you press the letter key, the associated number appears in the dialer window).

This explains why when I tried to change the commas to "p" and "w" per MrGibbage's suggestion they appear as "7" and "9" respectively. I like this feature.

So I guess I'll just have to wait for a software update to fix the "#" problem. Is there a separate email or forum area for reporting bugs?

[obijohn]

So I'm doing it correctly then.

So I guess I'll just have to wait for a software update to fix the "#" problem. Is there a separate email or forum area for reporting bugs?

Sorry, guess I didn't read your post carefully enough. I thought you were trying to use "#" as a pause character.

The "USSD code" thing is what is used to query the carrier for information. For example, with T-Mobile (and probably others) using "#646#" as the number to dial will cause the phone to send a USSD code to T-Mobile requesting how many minutes you've used (you will get a status popup that displays the information). Other USSD codes are "#225# for balance, and "#768#" for last payment info.

So the problem is that using "#" in a number, pre-dial, causes the phone to send a USSD code to the carrier (and probably an invalid code, since they're usually 3 digits).

It should be possible to patch the dialer so that it only tries to send USSD codes for known codes, and for all others it uses as is the pound key was hit on the dialer. Since it's now open source, this is definitely possible. It's just a matter of priorities.

[taa1]

Sorry, guess I didn't read your post carefully enough. I thought you were trying to use "#" as a pause character.

I realize this thread is somewhat confusing since (I realize now) the real issue is about the "#" character and not about a "pause" character. I can't figure out how to change the thread title to make it more meaningful.


The "USSD code" thing is what is used to query the carrier for information.

Cool. Maybe the patch would be as simple as saying if the first character of the number to dial is a "#" then treat as USSD, otherwise treat as-is? Are there any valid USSD's that DON'T begin with a "#"?

What is the proper venue for reporting the problem I'm encountered -- email or some other forum? Not sure how to get this info into the hands of the people who can make the patch?

[K.Krstnsn]

What is the proper venue for reporting the problem I'm encountered -- email or some other forum? Not sure how to get this info into the hands of the people who can make the patch?

i havent really found much either. ive encoutered about 4-5 bugs i would like to let them know.

The only thing i have come across was for developers.

[taa1]

i havent really found much either. ive encoutered about 4-5 bugs i would like to let them know.

The only thing i have come across was for developers.

Has anyone found a proper forum? I dislike the idea of posting to developer forums as I'm a =user= and it doesn't feel appropriate to do so there. I would do so as a very last resort. But how else do us users report issues to the people who can address them?

[serpens187]

Hi All --

I found an answer regarding the pound key (#) -- you need follow the pound with a comma (#,)

Source: http://forums.t-mobile.com/tmbl/board/message?board.id=Android3&thread.id=6476

I thought I'd would just pass the news around. (paying karma forward)

[taa1]

Thanks, serpens187! That works perfectly! :)

[chiefted]

Hi All --


I thought I'd would just pass the news around. (paying karma forward)
:):)

Thank you was going nuts there since I have only had my G1 for about a month now and still couldn't figure out how to make the pauses and "pound" signs work for calling my home voice mail, or the bank, or the drug store, etc.

[jamesjack]

I use the free android app "Pause Dialer" in the android market to insert pauses into phone numbers to automate dailing calling cards and conference call.

Blurb from http://www.androidpit.com/en/android/market/apps/app/com.slicedbreadenterprises.pausedialer/Pause-Dialer-Lite

about the app:


Pause Dialer Lite allows you to create, save, and automatically dial phone numbers with pauses inserted.

Automate touch tone phone calls e.g. logging onto a conference call, navigating automated phone systems

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