A vertical service code is a ficticious telephone number that usually begins with the * (star) key on the touch tone keypad. Some cellular companies also use # to begin a vertical service code.

List of vertical service codes (not all of these services are available in all areas, some are only available to wireline telephones (and unavailable to cellular callers) and some require additional services be purchased from the telephone company to use them):

  • *67 - Private call - Informs telephone switch not to release caller-id information for this particular call.
  • *69 - Return call - Call back the last party that dialed this number. If the caller did not use *67, this service will usually read back their number before placing the call to them.
  • *70 - Cancel Call Waiting - Informs telephone switch not to activate call waiting service for this telephone call. Service will resume after this call is terminated.