When you dial 911 from a land line they instantly know where you are
calling from using caller ID. They can send help even if you can't
talk.
The 911 people are frustrated and concerned every day when they get
911 calls from cell phones and do not have this capibility. "Can
you tell me where you are?" "I'm on a cell phone and I don't know
where I am."
To solve this, sometime in the near future, all cell phones will be
required to include enough GPS circuitry to transmit the location of
the caller to 911. Perhaps you will be able to opt out with a code
just like you can turn off caller ID.
"Hey DrewClan. I see where you are on my caller ID/GPS program.
What makes you think the letterbox is over that way? You must have
made a wrong turn after the creek crossing."
Now the GAP example was probably just a computerized receiver that
listened for passing cell phones dialed them back. Pretty
interesting. I saw a movie where you walk into the GAP and the
computer greeter says, "Welcome back M. Soandso. Did those button
fly jeans work for you? They are on sale this week."
Wild stuff,
Scarab of the Doubtful Guests with TMI.
--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Drew Family"
wrote:
> > Cell phone 911 is great provided you know EXACTLY where you are.
> > Services like cingular offer GPS enhancements but its not that
> easy,
> > because the responders need the GPS features to find you!
>
> I've been wondering about that because of The Sopranos. Seems that
> Tony and all the bada-bingers steal a new cell number every day
> because supposedly the Feds can track where they are when the cell
> phone is on. Kinda like onstar for waste disposal execs.
>
> So, this mother's day weekend we were shopping on 5th Ave in the
> great NYC, and as we walked by The Gap, M's cell rang. It was
(gasp!)
> an automated advertisement from The Gap. Too freaky!
>
> Now, how can I get your cell phone to ring when you're near my
newest
> mystery box?
>
> Jay in CT