Wireless providers must have the technology to locate Canadian 911 callers by next February, but most cellphone users won’t be covered, a new study suggests.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunication Commission requires that wireless service providers have systems that provide emergency responders with the location of 911 calls made from a cellphone by Feb. 1, 2010. A number of Canadians have died after making 911 calls because the dispatcher could not tell where they were calling from.
A study released by the technology market intelligence firm IDC Canada Inc. this week estimates that as few as 30 per cent of wireless devices in Canada will be able to provide accurate location data to emergency responders by February of next year.
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What a scary headline; but, when you actually read the article, not so bad. I do like that only 30% number for “wireless devices”; and “wireless devices” include …? Ah, I’m just bitch’n – IDC is more of a high-level “what would you like the study to conclude” organization to backup up sales pitches to governments, etc.
Anyway, the #1 “best” advice from B.C.’s emergency services is … make sure your cell phone batteries are charged!