Fragman

Saw this on the news the other day. Not sure if this is the right place to post it, but think there is some indirect relevance to CC, or at least from a tactical perspective.

In a nutshell, it says that all newer verizon cell phones generate an audible alarm when calling 911. Not so great if trying to call covertly while something is going down.

Just wondered how much of it was media BS and how much is true.

Here's the link. If you go to the page, they have a video clip.:

http://www.kvue.com/news/local/stori...1f46e16ee.html


Verizon customer calls phone alarm 'dangerous'
06:36 PM CST on Friday, November 9, 2007
By CLARA TUMA
KVUE News

An Austin woman who dialed 911 recently discovered what she said could be a fatal flaw in some new cell phones.

“I think it’s a danger to everyone,” she says.

Carol, who asked that her last name not be used for fear of making herself or her land a target for vandals, called for help recently when she arrived at some vacant property she owns in east Austin and found her security chain gone.

She grabbed her new Casio G’zOne phone from Verizon Wireless, 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.

“I was afraid the criminals were down the driveway and they would hear and they would know somebody was doing something and they would come out to stop me,” she said.

The alarm is not ear-splitting, but it is loud enough to be heard at least several yards away.

Turns out, Verizon said the 911 alarm is on all its new phones. Verizon said the audible tone is required by the Federal Communications Commission.

The FCC, however, said that’s not so.

Here’s what Verizon Spokeswoman Sheryl Sellaway said:

“The tone our customer experienced is our interpretation of Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act calling for a provider of telecommunications service to offer service that is accessible and usable by individuals with disabilities. The tone, indicating that 911 has been dialed, is one of several features designed to make wireless service is accessible and easy to use, especially for those with disabilities. Other features include a voice command key where customers can use their voice to dial by name or number; a voice echo feature so that a person who can't see can hear the number or letter if sending a text; read back text messages and speech output of signal strength, battery strength, missed calls, voicemail, roaming, time and date.”

Sellaway said Verizon is concerned that Carol is unhappy with her service. She said Carol’s is the first complaint about the tone.

But the FCC said 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.

“The Commission has not implemented any rules pursuant to Section 255 that would require the use of any tones concerning 911 calls,” a spokesman said.

The FCC said it has not had any complaints about 911 alarms.

Back in Austin, Carol said she worries about someone trying to unobtrusively get help -- maybe during a robbery or a kidnapping -- only to have the alarm alert criminals to their whereabouts.

She said she’s lucky, because vandals had already left her property when she called police back in September.

Now she said she carries an old beat-up phone with her phone on her property because though it’s falling apart, it will still call 911 -- quietly.

SailorWatson

I wonder if that feature can be turned off after purchasing the phone!!! Go reason to stay with my current carrier.

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Fragman

Apparently it can't be disabled.

aus71383

If the BG can hear the alarm from "several yards away" what do you think he's going to hear when you are talking (even in a whisper) to the 911 operator? If you are so scared that a BG is going to find you and kill you that you are calling 911 maybe you should arm yourself first...

Austin

Duisburg

i read an article that said new cellphones can be tapped even with them off
I found the website: http://pcworld.about.com/news/Apr142005id120407.htm

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jcheinaman

They can be. The only way around it is to remove the battery from the phone.

SIXTO

Just another reason why I wont give another dime to Verizon.

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Thumper

I just can't believe Verizon's moronic marketing stupidity!

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Redneck Repairs

Frag i have no idea if they actually do call . Verizon is my carrier but my razor is a couple of years old . The feature can be turned off if they do , now if Verizon will turn it off for you is another question . Myself i hack my own phones for the features i want be dammed what the carrier wants . This is not illegal , but does void the warranty from verizon, so you best be confident when you seem edit a phone since its easy to make a paperweight . I just started because i demanded direct transfer of images and ringtones between my computer and my phone ... wound up with soo much more including a nifty cellular modem that will access any dial up account to check email ect and over bluetooth if needed lol .

ENSANE1970

I have Sprint for my personal and Verizon for my work cell. About 3 months ago I got huge bills for both, tlo the tune of $600 each. Apparently someone can tap your signal and download ringtones, songs, etc and it will be charged to your bill. I called Verizon and told them, these weren't my charges, look at my past bills, I don't download anything on my phone. They said I was still responsible for the bill. I called Sprint expecting the same response, not so they took the charges off my account. As for a phone that chimes when 911 is called, thank the Clintons for that.

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