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Verizon Launching Text-to-911 Service
Functionality Should Show up in Early 2013
Verizon has announced that the carrier will soon be allowing users to send text messages to get emergency help from 911 services. The company's new text-to-911 service will use Verizon's existing CDMA SMS network for 911 text notifications, and the company plans to make the functionality available to 911 center public-service answering points, or PSAPs, starting in early 2013. "While consumers should always first try to contact a 911 center by making a voice call, this enhanced SMS service, when deployed, will offer an alternative for customers on the Verizon Wireless network who are deaf or hard of hearing and cannot make voice calls or who could be placed in additional danger by speaking," says the company.
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cableties
Premium Member
join:2005-01-27

cableties

Premium Member

Text to 911...

"...it's in the Castle of Aaaaaaarrrrgggg"

No one responded.



On serious note, I hope they have good spam filters.

ropeguru
Premium Member
join:2001-01-25
Mechanicsville, VA

1 recommendation

ropeguru

Premium Member

Re: Text to 911...

said by cableties:

"...it's in the Castle of Aaaaaaarrrrgggg"

No one responded.



On serious note, I hope they have good spam filters.

Yeah, I am just waiting until they get the, "We buy junk cars", spam.

jjoshua
Premium Member
join:2001-06-01
Scotch Plains, NJ

1 recommendation

jjoshua

Premium Member

And...

Paid for, many times over, by another monthly fee.
MrkFrnt
join:2000-11-26
Winston Salem, NC

2 recommendations

MrkFrnt

Member

Re: And...

said by jjoshua:

another monthly fee.

I wonder how much this one is going to add to my bill.

j1349705
Premium Member
join:2006-04-15
Holly Springs, NC

j1349705

Premium Member

911 PSAPs prepare for the flood...

OMG HELP!!!

Sorry, I couldn't help it...

Actually, I think it is a very good idea. They should also add MMS so you can send photos (for example, road accidents).

alphapointe
Don't Touch Me
MVM
join:2002-02-10
Columbia, MO

alphapointe

MVM

Bad Idea!

The dispatcher in me just screamed...

I'm going to start having calls come up on my screen "ZOMG WTF!! ur grl brk" or some shit like that...

I also want to know how we're going to know where the message was sent from... are they going to send GPS coords with the message?
brigittegris
join:2012-05-23

brigittegris

Member

Dispatchers are busy enough

They have no time to look at 911 text messages.They are under staffed and they are stressed out all the time.

Brigitte Grisanti

bemis
Premium Member
join:2008-07-18
united state

bemis

Premium Member

What's the point

I don't understand the point? What would you text to them? Presumably the only reason to do this would be because you cannot speak--either you're physically incapable or it would put you in jeopardy...

I would think that a silent call to 911 would have basically the same effect--they'll dispatch someone to figure out what is wrong to your location (based on GPS)... I guess about the only value I see here is the ability to text your specific location/address as you enter it, which could be much more helpful in urban areas where GPS is not going to tell them that you're in 123 Smith Street Apartment 16 on the 4th floor...

...but it certainly seems like it opens the doors for more false calls and "pranks" then ever before.

bumb665
@198.105.10.x

bumb665

Anon

Re: What's the point

As a dispatcher for 6 years, yes there will be problems with this.

But people should also understand that cell phones do not give accurate locations at all. The FCC has rules and standards, but it does not have to be right 100% of the time. And no, it does not matter if your phone has GPS. The existing 9-1-1 technology has not been updated since the 80's. The amount of data it can handle has been restricted to a 10-digit phone number. You have to use the phone number and cross reference for a location from a seperate database. A silent call MAY get you some help. But if your location is accurrate to 100 meters and you are in a dense urban area (large apartment building or stadium) an officer will probably not find you. Maybe your cell company will provide your billing info without a warrant, but again if you aren't at home what is the PSAP supposed to do.

The whole system needs to be redesigned and rebuilt from the ground up. Thats what is happening now. For more, and accurate information on how 9-1-1 will work in an ng environment, go to the national emergency number association website (nena.org I believe) and search there.