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Worry Over VZW, Sprint Phones' 911 Alarm

Posted by kdawson on from the not-so-loud dept.

[TheBORG] writes "An Austin woman who dialed 911 recently discovered what she said could be a fatal flaw in some new cell phones. She called for help when she arrived at some vacant property she owns in east Austin and found her security chain gone. She grabbed her new Verizon Wireless Casio G'zOne phone, which to her horror made an audible alarm when she called 911. Fearing vandals were still on the property, she hung up and hid, then put her hand over the earpiece and dialed again to muffle the sounds. A Verizon Wireless spokesperson says it's mandatory according to Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act. The FCC says Section 255 of the Telecommunications Code requires that phones let a caller know a 911 call is underway, but does not require an audible alarm. This thread on Howardforums.com mentions that the alarm is present on new Sprint phones too."

11 of 362 comments (clear)

  1. In a closet! by courteaudotbiz · · Score: 2, Funny

    Very practical, when you're hidden in a closet because a criminal comes in with a weapon... I'm sure he won't mind you witness his crime.

    1. Re:In a closet! by HexaByte · · Score: 5, Funny
      But now that you know it's there, use it to your advantage!

      Scenario: Criminal breaks in. You hide behind/under the bed, dial 911 and throw cell phone into closet. It yells "I'm dialing 911". Criminal yells, "No, I'll kill you first", goes for closet. You shoot the bastard, saving your tax dollars being wasted on a trial. It's all caught on the 911 tape, and investigators conclude you were in direct fear for your life and acted appropriately.

      Next, you sue the Cell phone company for putting you in danger and giving you the emotional distress of having to kill a human being, resulting in your retirement fund being fully funded early, and you moving to the Bahamas to live a life of ease.

      --
      HexaByte - he's a square and a half!
    2. Re:In a closet! by slugstone · · Score: 2, Funny

      You forgot a few points.

      4. ???

      5. Profit.

      There that better. :-)

  2. Slashdotted! by Bazman · · Score: 4, Funny

    Right now the US emergency services are being slashdotted by slashdotters calling 911 to see if their phones go into this mode! Go on, call 911 now and you'll hear that all the operators are busy, and would you hold while they play you some Vivaldi...

  3. Audible alarm? by Forkenhoppen · · Score: 5, Funny

    Does a giant exclamation mark appear over your head too?

  4. What's the Alarm? by rodney+dill · · Score: 3, Funny

    Danger Will Robinson, Danger

    --

    Use your head, can't you, use your head,
    You're on earth, there's no cure for that     - S. Beckett
  5. Re:Post-call Alarm "Emergency Mode", Boston, 112. by A+beautiful+mind · · Score: 2, Funny

    Since absolutely noone mentioned it before, 112 is the european emergency number aswell as the international GSM emergency number. Glad to be able to tell you this important bit of information first!

    --
    It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
    Be yourself no matter what they say
  6. Wrong sound by Deadstick · · Score: 2, Funny

    Perhaps they could offer a new alarm tone: SHUCKSHUCK.

    rj

  7. Re:112 is the GSM international emergency number by JMZero · · Score: 4, Funny

    Except in England, where it's: 0118-999-881-999-119-7253.

    --
    Let's not stir that bag of worms...
  8. Re:Well, duh. by gEvil+(beta) · · Score: 1, Funny

    Why not just put a "blind person mode" on the phone (probably with a more PC name)?

    You mean a name like "Vista"?

    --
    This guy's the limit!
  9. Re:Well, duh. by Achromatic1978 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Blind people can feel.

    You forgot to end that sentence with "... you insensitive clod!"