Wireless: Cellphones saving lives

Iria · Aug 28, 2006, 05:52 PM

Source: IHT
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MILAN Since last year, a call from any phone in the European Union to the number 112 has connected the dialer for free to a local emergency services hot line that can send out the police, medics or firefighters.

While that was a hard-fought accomplishment that had been 15 years in the making, experts as well as the EU itself have said that more must be done, specifically concerning cellphones, if the unified emergency number is to reach its full potential for saving lives. The EU estimates that when its recommendations for 112 are fully implemented, as many as 5,000 lives a year will be saved in its 25 member countries.

The EU, beginning this year, has required that the same technology that lets cellphone companies tell clients about the closest theater or restaurant be used for emergency responses, but some countries have yet to comply, citing problems with compatibility and privacy.

Aug 28, 2006, 05:52 PM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 87	Wireless: Cellphones saving lives Source: IHT __________ MILAN Since last year, a call from any phone in the European Union to the number 112 has connected the dialer for free to a local emergency services hot line that can send out the police, medics or firefighters. While that was a hard-fought accomplishment that had been 15 years in the making, experts as well as the EU itself have said that more must be done, specifically concerning cellphones, if the unified emergency number is to reach its full potential for saving lives. The EU estimates that when its recommendations for 112 are fully implemented, as many as 5,000 lives a year will be saved in its 25 member countries. The EU, beginning this year, has required that the same technology that lets cellphone companies tell clients about the closest theater or restaurant be used for emergency responses, but some countries have yet to comply, citing problems with compatibility and privacy.