# Cheapest emergency cell phone.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-emergency-cell-phone/275588
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [November 19, 2004, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-emergency-cell-phone/275588 "2004-11-19T01:09:47Z")
**Posts on this page:** 15
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2004, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-emergency-cell-phone/275588/1 "2004-11-19T01:09:47Z")
What is the cheapest way to get a cell phone for use in 911 emergencies and no other use? Can you get phones for 911 emergency use only?
---
### Author:  [@davenportavenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davenportavenger)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2004, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-emergency-cell-phone/275588/2 "2004-11-19T01:13:12Z")
I believe that most cell phones, even when unactivated, can still dial 911. Maybe just buy a cheap phone and never get a plan for it?
---
### Author:  [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2004, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-emergency-cell-phone/275588/3 "2004-11-19T01:13:43Z")
I’m not aware of a cell phone just for 911 use in Canada (and I do deal extensively with the ambulance services). A cheap alternative is a no frills "pay as you go"plan where you just don’t use the phone much. A CB transmitter or short wave may provide cheaper 911 access than a cell phone. Or maybe a doper who isn’t talking out of their ass will come along soon.
---
### Author:  [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2004, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-emergency-cell-phone/275588/4 "2004-11-19T01:18:53Z")
All cell phones made for use in the USA are required to be able to dial 911 even when they are deactivated. Strange that Canada does not have a similar requirement. My USA cell phone worked when I was in Toronto last year. Perhaps you could get a deactivated USA phone and try it out.
---
### Author:  [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2004, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-emergency-cell-phone/275588/5 "2004-11-19T03:07:13Z")
Yes any unactivated phone, even used and available on ebay, can call 2 numbers.
911
and
611 (this will connect you to the cell service that is currently connecting your phone to the cell tower, where you could make a call by providing a CC #, most likely at something like $5/minute)
---
### Author:  [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2004, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-emergency-cell-phone/275588/6 "2004-11-19T03:11:44Z")
This may be the case in Canada for deactivated phones too. I don’t know.
---
### Author:  [@KP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KP)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2004, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-emergency-cell-phone/275588/7 "2004-11-19T03:30:32Z")
Please check this before relying on it, but while I know that _analog_ cell phones in the US were statutorily required to be “open” for outgoing calls to 911 (i.e. all analog cells will accept and route the call even if doesn’t correspond to any active account), I recall that here was some controversy over whether that requirement applied to the newer digital phones and networks.
I’ve kept an analog phone in my car for 10 years now. It was used to make an emergency call five years after I cancelled it and switched carriers. it worked fine then, but now that I think about it, I really should check the battery (It’s always on the charger; I wired an extra cigarette lighter socket under my seat. However, I never checked it would work if the car battery didn’t - e.g. after an accident)
---
### Author:  [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2004, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-emergency-cell-phone/275588/8 "2004-11-19T03:51:38Z")
This probably doesn’t help, but in Europe you can dial 112 with any mobile telephone, even without a SIM card.
---
### Author:  [@tryout1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tryout1)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2004, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-emergency-cell-phone/275588/9 "2004-11-19T04:13:43Z")
As noted, U.S. cell phones are supposed to connect to 911 whether you have an account or not. Some organizations collect old phones to give to people who might need to call the cops or medical help.
But there are different kinds of emergencies. If your car breaks down on a country road in the middle of the night, you might not need to call the police, but you might want to call a friend or AAA.
The prices on some of the prepaid arrangements seem to have dropped recently. AT&T (just merged with Cingular, I believe), sells prepaid cards for as little as $10 (30 minutes usage or so) that are good for 90 days. They were selling phones on their web site the last time I looked for as little as $50. So you get an actual account and a phone you can use to call anyone for $3.33 a month plus the cost of the phone. And if you forget (or choose not to) buy a new card every 90 days, you still have a phone good for 911 calls. (I’m not shilling for AT&T, but their deal is the one I’m most familiar with.)
---
### Author:  [@tryout1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tryout1)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2004, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-emergency-cell-phone/275588/10 "2004-11-19T04:23:35Z")
Also possibly helpful (again, other companies probably have similar deals):
[http://www.emergencycellphones.com/index.html](http://www.emergencycellphones.com/index.html)
---
### Author:  [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2004, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-emergency-cell-phone/275588/11 "2004-11-19T14:38:34Z")
> [@Bippy the Beardless](#):
>
> What is the cheapest way to get a cell phone for use in 911 emergencies and no other use? Can you get phones for 911 emergency use only?
Ask a cell phone service provider. Many are turned in when buying a new phone/service plan.
Second look for the local charity that collects used/replaced phones for free redistribution to those individuals with needs such as yours.
---
### Author:  [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2004, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-emergency-cell-phone/275588/12 "2004-11-19T15:09:54Z")
Are you looking for one? I can send one to you free if you’d like. I recently upgraded, and have several old cell phoned tucked in drawers. The kids like using them as toys, but I think I still have a charger for two of them.
E-mail me if you’re interested.
---
### Author:  [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2004, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-emergency-cell-phone/275588/13 "2004-11-19T16:30:03Z")
Thanks all for the information and offer. I’ll ask arround at work for anyone who has an old unused phone. I really only want the phone for total emergencies and so don’t want to pay for any sort of plan that allows more the 911 calls. I just feel that if I’m out driving and see an acident or crime I would be better equipped if I can phone police or ambulance immediately without having to find a pay phone. I like the privacy of not having a cell phone (and the fact that work would eventually learn about it, and start phoning me up at inconvenient times, without paying me to be on call).
---
### Author:  [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2004, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-emergency-cell-phone/275588/14 "2004-11-19T16:44:39Z")
> [@Bippy the Beardless](#):
>
> I like the privacy of not having a cell phone (and the fact that work would eventually learn about it, and start phoning me up at inconvenient times, without paying me to be on call).
Caller ID, man! Unlike the local landline company that wants to charge me $5 a month for this service, it’s included with a cell phone.
You can’t beat a free phone, but ebay also has a ton of cheap used cell phones.
---
### Author:  [@Jayrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayrot)
#### Post date: [November 19, 2004, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-emergency-cell-phone/275588/15 "2004-11-19T17:54:39Z")
I too have several older, working cell phones that I’d be happy to send to you for free.
I’ve heard that they can be donated for their use as 911 platforms.
Let me know.