Every person who uses a mobile phone knows that there is a set of technical commands that can be used to perform various actions related to your subscriber number. For example, you can check your balance in this way, find out the status of a particular service, check the balance of bonuses, and so on. All this is possible thanks to the interaction function - the interaction of a person-subscriber and a system-operator in real time. Thus, you can directly send some data that the service perceives and processes.
Messaging
All this is possible through a special exchange of commands. As you can see, your device receives information in the form of messages about what balance you have, what kind of tariff is connected, about the actions that are available, and much more. Your task after such a message arrives is to respond appropriately. If it's an informational alert, you don't have to do anything - just read it. It is also possible that this is a command menu, and in it you need to select a specific item using numbering. For example, it could be a list of actions that can be performed by specifying their number in the list.
All this is familiar to you, because everyoneThe user has already encountered this more than once. All these commands and actions are called by a common term - USSD. What it is will be discussed in our today's article. It will be devoted to this format of receiving and transmitting data. In it, we will talk about the features, areas of application, as well as the most popular USSD commands of Russian operators.
What is USSD?
First, let's decipher and translate the abbreviation. "Unstructured Supplementary Service Data" translates as "an additional service that allows you to transfer data." If you figure it out, it really is. We know that a lot of technical requests go through USSD (what kind of requests, we'll talk further). It would not have been possible to organize their reception and an instant response in any other way and in such a short time - only the quality of this service makes it possible to achieve such a result. Internet connection is not available on all devices, and receiving information via SMS takes more time. And knowing the USSD code, any operation can be carried out quickly and easily, in a matter of seconds! Because of this, apparently, the system has become so widespread in the form of technology used on every mobile phone.
Even before the advent of the mobile Internet, various instant messengers and numerous software with which communication takes place now, the technology discussed in this article successfully performed its functions of communicating between the subscriber and his device with the operator center - the company serving the user.
Request format
It is also important to mention what rules and requirements are set for teams. After all, there are a number of restrictions applied to USSD. It is easy to understand what these restrictions and requirements are - just remember how you type the command to check the account. That's right, first you enter the symbol "" (the so-called "asterisk"), then the number you would like to contact for the operation (for example, 111); followed by the symbol "" (the so-called "hash"). Obviously she is closing the team.
In addition to the marked characters, the USSD request may contain prefixes. As a rule, they serve to select an option within an already existing command. For example, dial 1111. The prefix is separated from the main number with an asterisk. This means that the subscriber selects the first option within the given command (for example, when switching to some tariff plan, this is important).
Interaction
If we talk about how the interaction between the subscriber and the server takes place, then we should mention the session technology. This means that the exchange of information takes place in one session, without involving the database. In turn, this means the following: if in the case of SMS messages, the subscriber can receive them even after sending (for example, when his phone was switched off), then with USSD requests, the data is not stored anywhere and “live” only one session. Due to this, we can say that such an interaction is instantaneous and instantaneous, without a longexistence.
It's also important to say about USSD that it's a text-only service. It does not support the transmission of a voice signal, and you cannot make calls using it. It differs from SMS technology in that the latter is intended for the exchange of information between subscribers, and USSD allows you to send requests to the server. That is why, in the initial part of the article, we called it a “technical” way of communication.
Where is it used?
We have already partially described the purposes for which the USSD request is used in the previous parts of the article. However, in order to more clearly form the reader's understanding of this technology, we will tell a little more.
So, as for the service, we figured it out: operators using USSD send people information about their balance, about the latest new tariff plans, about how many people can use this or that service, and so on. In order to reproduce this or that function, there are special USSD commands for each of them. By entering them in the phone, the subscriber receives pre-programmed information that interests him. Easy, simple and free - everything that meets the ideals of service. But this is just one of the applications.
Any USSD number can also be used for entertainment. Media content providers offer subscribers to receive the latest music hits, videos and other options on their mobile by entering one or another request. This is done as follows: first, the subscriber accesses the service, then his device shows a menu with available services. Toto choose one of them, just enter the number that corresponds to the menu item. This is how interaction takes place.
Among other things, information is a great use for technology. The operator can set up a short number to provide the subscriber with data on a particular topic in the shortest possible time - as simply and easily as possible. And, in truth, some operators take advantage of this. For example, sometimes via USSD they report the location of the nearest communication salon of the network in which the subscriber is served; or by using the services menu called by such short queries, you can show the user various interesting commercial offers.
USSD on tablets
Because USSD commands are entered on mobile devices, it is obvious that their application is somewhat difficult on some tablet computers. We are talking about using SIM-cards with wireless Internet on tablets without a GSM module. In such a situation, the subscriber sees notifications from the operator, but, due to the lack of access to the call menu, he cannot dial the command he needs. This makes it impossible to check the account balance.
There are special applications and add-ons for your device for this. For example, such a USSD-Widget for Android tablets can be downloaded from Google Play. This will allow the subscriber to use all communication services with fewer restrictions. For iOS, such software, respectively, can be downloaded from the Appstore.
Such applications are only required for thosetablets that do not have the ability to make calls. After all, as you know, there is a category of devices that are able to dial phone numbers of other subscribers using the built-in GSM module. True, this applies mainly to the so-called "phablets" - small tablets that differ from the phone only in the size of their displays. Larger devices like the iPad don't have this feature, of course. Applications for sending USSD requests that are installed on the operating system of such devices allow you to do this.
USSD MegaFon
Now, having described the capabilities of the technology, we will provide information about the commands used by telecom operators. Let's start with Megafon. USSD requests of this operator are very easy to find - they are described on a single page of the company's official portal. Here, first of all, they mention the command that all subscribers without exception turn to - checking the balance. You can do this by entering 100. Do not forget that after typing a command, you must press the call key on your device.
Megafon divided its other USSD commands into different sections depending on their functions. For example, reference information can be found using the following commands: getting access to your personal account (105); information about the My Number service (205); checking the remaining bonuses (minutes, megabytes) on the account (558); receiving information about paid services by your number (105559). Also, do not forget about roaming - in order to find out about additional services when leaving from601 will help the territory. This is, of course, not all USSD commands. MegaFon also lists requests in order to find out the latest requests (512), latest payments (10512). You can find out about the services by entering 1052, and about your tariff plan - 1053. To get information about available bonuses, you can dial 115. To search for the nearest Megafon salon, the USSD request 123 serves.
In fact, there are many more teams - some of them are responsible only for certain tariffs or options.
USSD Beeline
The set of commands that the subscriber is allowed to use here is very similar to the Megafon set. In general, it should be noted that the functions that a subscriber can use using the USSD service are typical for most operators.
Judge for yourself. To determine your number (for those who cannot remember it in any way), there is a command11010. The command common to all - checking the balance on the mobile account - is 102.
To find out the balance of other services from Beeline, USSD commands from 105 to 108 are used. We are now talking about SMS, MMS, Internet traffic. The last command allows you to check everything at once with a single message.
In order to replenish the account using a card, there is a request 101X, where instead of "X" it is necessary to indicate the number of the purchased card for replenishment. Another important code - 11009 - allows you to determine which services are currently installed on your phone. If you do not know which tariff plan you currently have and what it is, dial the command11005. To ask another subscriber to call you back, just dial 144 subscriber's number, and replenish the account - the same number, only 143.
To order additional functions, there are also requests. The command 110071 is used to activate the "anti-determinant"; and to enter the chat - 110511.
USSD MTS
The situation is similar at the other largest Russian mobile operator. MTS USSD requests are not much different from other operators. The 100 command allows you to find out the balance of the account, and 145 - to get a list of the last five paid actions that were made by phone number. The tariff plan on which you are served can be seen using the command 11112, and in order to transfer funds to another person, you need to enter the command 121.
If you are served by the MTS operator, you can also order additional services through the USSD service. For example, the "Credit method" option can be activated via the number 150, and packages for working with the Internet can be connected by sending requests from 111423 to 111443.
Like MegaFon, MTS USSD requests are clearly divided into whole blocks depending on their functions. Thus, it is quite easy to search among them for the service that you need at the moment.
USSD Tele2
Another operator whose commands I would like to describe is "Tele2". To check the balance with this operator, the subscriber needs to enter 105. For information about your phone number, use the 201 command, and to displaydata on the tariff plan on which you are served - 107.
If you are currently roaming and would like to know what services are available to you in order to save on communication, dial 146. A subscriber who wants to use entertainment content from a special "Tele2" portal will use the number 111.
You can also order additional services via USSD here. In particular, the Black List option, which blocks calls from certain subscribers, is ordered by sending a request 2021subscriber number.
In the event that you notice that your funds are disappearing from your account in an unknown direction, you must enter 153 - this is a service for monitoring connected paid services.
Finally, through commands you can get WAP, MMS or GPRS settings. It's very simple - just type in 202 and then press call.
A more complete list of available commands can be found on the official Tele2 website. There are really a lot of them.
USSD Rostelecom
Such a telecom operator as Rostelecom also uses USSD codes. The standard and most common request is 105. With its help, the subscriber can call the menu for checking the balance on his account. The main menu for changing tariffs, ordering additional services and connecting various paid options calls the Rostelecom operator with the USSD code 111.
If you don't know what tariff plan you are currently serving on, please ask 107 for help. For those who keep forgetting their phone number,there is a command 201.
You can change the beep with 115; ask to replenish your account - 123subscriber number. The same applies to the ability to send "call me back please" - done using 118phone number.
Of course, the operator has other request codes, some of which relate to specific tariffs and options. You can find them on the official website or from a company consultant.
USSD Velcom
Of course, USSD codes are valid not only in Russia. The Belarusian operator Velcom has a set of its own requests. In particular: 100 - call for information about how much is left on your account; 1001 - information about bonus minutes, SMS and MMS messages available on the balance, as well as the amount of data in GPRS format.
With the help of some USSDs, Velcom allows you to connect additional services. For example, 2001 - ordering the "Stopitsot" service, 424 - "Melofon", and 12614 - activation of international roaming. With the help of other commands, you can simply manage some settings: change "favorite numbers" (1267); set the home region for your number (1264).
In the USSD menu, information services are also available, for example, you can get a list of all commands using the request 1269. This is perhaps the best opportunity to find out in the most convenient way how to perform the action you are interested in as soon as possible. Therefore, we recommend that you just remember this command in order to have access to all the others.
