911 Access without an account?

Is it true you can use any cell phone that is charged to call 911 even if it isnt activated to a network? I have several older phones I could give to seniors I know who could use them in emergencys if this is true. Thanks!!

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Yup its true, Any phone, with or without a sim card in it can call emergency services, the phone just connects to the nearest mast, despite networks, and lets the call through. 911 works on some phones, but 112 works on all phones.

What the heck does 112 do Mark?!

Same thing really, its just basically 911 for mobiles!

I can give out a few to some of the seniors I know, It will come in handy if they should fall!!! Ill pass the news around.... Mattie

I'm wondering if 112 isn;t a European thing...

Many Womens' Coalition type groups collect old cellphones and distribute them to domestic violence victims for emergencies... check with your local 911 folks for exact details, the newer phones (post 9/11 terrorism attack I understand) have a GPS locator chip so that the emergency personell do not have to ask for an address - you may need to explain to non-tech-savvy folks that they will have to give their location (unlike a land line or new cellphone)

on a cell phone bill there is a tax for 911

I believe that it's federal law that all wireless phones activated or not is to be able to call 911. Just like it's federal law that all phones have the e-911 thing on it.

Originally Posted by ALEN

on a cell phone bill there is a tax for 911

Yes, there is a tax for 911 on wireless bills...it's for the e-911 thing. There's also a tax for the phone number porting.

I also believe that the GPS chip is due to a woman that drove herself into a bog or something and drowned in her car beacuse she couldn't give the emergency personnel her location over the phone.

Hrm...Correct me if I'm wrong about all of this, although... :P

my wife actually works at a senior center and they do collections/donations of old cell phones that seniors can use in case of emergencies. it's a good cause.

on a side note, if a gsm phone doesn't have service, if you try to call you get an 'emergency only' text. i haven't ever tested 911 when this happens, but if you can call 911 with no service, why can't you get service?