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Got a Verizon cell phone? DITCH IT NOW!
Got a new Verizon cell phone? DITCH IT NOW. Seriously, the morons over there have added the world's stupidest new feature: an alarm that can be heard for several yards that sounds when you dial 911.
They say it's a new feature. They say the FCC demands it. They say nobody has complained. (Don'tcha just love that? The woman who complains is essentially told "well, you're the only one with a problem.") But out in the real world the FCC is going "WTF? Oh, HELL no, we're not that stupid!" and I don't think there's a person alive who hasn't twigged to the concept of hiding from attackers/hunters/housebreakers while calling for help.
There are too many cell phone companies out there for you to have to tolerate one that's going to put a big, audible "Come and get her, she's right here!" target on someone in trouble. Switch, or failing that, return to an older phone model... and give Verizon an earful. "Nobody's complained" my ass. Nobody probably believed they were that insanely careless with safety... or possibly this woman is the first to have survived to complain.\
ETA: According to this source, the tone is in all 2006 and newer Verizon phones -- some 35 models.
They say it's a new feature. They say the FCC demands it. They say nobody has complained. (Don'tcha just love that? The woman who complains is essentially told "well, you're the only one with a problem.") But out in the real world the FCC is going "WTF? Oh, HELL no, we're not that stupid!" and I don't think there's a person alive who hasn't twigged to the concept of hiding from attackers/hunters/housebreakers while calling for help.
There are too many cell phone companies out there for you to have to tolerate one that's going to put a big, audible "Come and get her, she's right here!" target on someone in trouble. Switch, or failing that, return to an older phone model... and give Verizon an earful. "Nobody's complained" my ass. Nobody probably believed they were that insanely careless with safety... or possibly this woman is the first to have survived to complain.\
ETA: According to this source, the tone is in all 2006 and newer Verizon phones -- some 35 models.
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The idea that we ALL should have devices meant for the lowest common capability is downright insulting. We can be equal in shared respect while at the same time acknowledging openly that we are not equal in capability.
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Now, I obviously haven't tried to call 911 to test it out, but this being the internet, perhaps the truth lies somewhere between the two reports (piercing tone versus not at all audible).
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That being said, it gives me greater motivation to do what I've known I should do since I moved: Call the local police and ask for their direct line to program into the phone. 911 calls from cellphones aren't always routed to the local department, and it can take up to five minutes to be transfered to someone in your area, or so I was told the one time I did dial 911.
Sigh. I really didn't need anything else to make switching phone carriers more attractive.
Routing FYI
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My $0.02
Re: My $0.02
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I have Verizon- it's the only service that works at my house- and a newer-than-'06 phone. I have called 911 more than once to report having witnessed an accident. Noticed that it made a quick series of little beeps, but at least on my phone it's no louder than the beeps it makes when I press keys. If the phone wasn't at my ear, I wouldn't have heard it.
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