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Unless you’re a frequent flyer, airplane mode is probably one of those things that you never really think about. It was introduced when smartphones began to become more prolific as a way of ensuring that cellular equipment doesn’t interfere with the flight. But, what most people don’t realize is that airplane mode can be useful for more than just flying.
What does airplane mode do?
Airplane mode basically disables all signals coming to and from your device. Turning on airplane mode disables the following hardware:
- Wifi – The phone will stop scanning for and attempting to connect to Wifi networks. This feature can actually be turned back on after airplane mode is enabled so that users can connect to in-flight Wifi, where available.
- Bluetooth – Your phone will stop searching for other Bluetooth signals and will lose connection to any Bluetooth devices including headsets and speakers.
- GPS (sometimes) – Older phones will turn GPS off as well, but some newer devices do not as GPS use does not require transmitting any signals and therefore will not interfere with anything on the plane. Some aircraft regulations prohibit the use of GPS on airplanes, however, so you’ll need to check your device and possibly turn this off manually.
- Cellular Signal – This is the biggest part of airplane mode and will prevent your phone from sending or receiving any cellular data or signal. This means you won’t be able to make or receive calls or texts and won’t be able to use data unless connected to Wifi.
Whenever airplane mode is enabled there will be an airplane image in your phone’s notification bar in place of the the signal indicator.
What else can I use it for?
Obviously airplane mode is designed for use in airplanes. I probably don’t even need to explain that. However, airplane mode is good for more than just that for one reason alone: battery life. For the most part, when airplane mode is enabled your device will have battery-draining background functions completely shut off (with the occasional exception of GPS).
You can take advantage of this when your phone battery is low but you don’t want to risk shutting it down, as turning on airplane mode will increase your battery life slightly. It is also a good way to avoid distractions without completely limiting the functionality of your device. You’ll still be able to access some apps, the camera, photos, or notes you might have on your phone. Your phone will also charge slightly faster on airplane mode; although how much faster will depend on the device. Airplane mode is also useful if you’re simply using your phone as an ereader or don’t want to waste battery life in areas where you know you’ll have no signal anyway.
Do keep in mind that while airplane mode is on, you won’t be able to make or receive any calls or texts–you won’t even get notifications–so there are definitely some limitations. However, in the right settings it can certainly be useful.
This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for Tracfone Prepaid information on the web!
This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for Tracfone Prepaid information on the web!
The post FAQ: What Does Airplane Mode Do? appeared first on Prepaid Reviews Blog.
