# Will all cell phones will dial 911? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 3, 2005, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-all-cell-phones-will-dial-911/292723 "2005-03-03T06:02:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![galen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecc23a/32.png) [@galen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-all-cell-phones-will-dial-911/292723/1 "2005-03-03T06:02:35Z")
I have heard that all cell phones in the US can be used to dial 911 even if you do not have cell phone service. In other words, if you do not need a cell phone except for dire emergencies, you can just throw any old phone in your car and it will get you emergency services as long as the battery is charged. Is this true? ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-all-cell-phones-will-dial-911/292723/2 "2005-03-03T06:10:58Z")
Well, if your cell phone is not connected with an established service provider, how can it work to call any number, let alone 911? FWIW, I have a cell phone that is currently not connected to an established service provider. The battery is good. I just dialled 911. I might as well have used a landline phone where the line cord isn’t plugged in because the result was the same. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-all-cell-phones-will-dial-911/292723/3 "2005-03-03T06:11:02Z")
> [@galen](#): > > I have heard that all cell phones in the US can be used to dial 911 even if you do not have cell phone service. In other words, if you do not need a cell phone except for dire emergencies, you can just throw any old phone in your car and it will get you emergency services as long as the battery is charged. > > Is this true? Every cell phone subscriber pays about 50 cents a month to subsidize the 911 service, so any cell phone active or not will dial 911. Some local battered womens organizations do a yearly or bi yearly drive to donate old cell phones , so that they can take advantage of the service , in my area. Declan ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-all-cell-phones-will-dial-911/292723/4 "2005-03-03T06:15:29Z")
From [here](http://ftp.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/wireless911srvc.html): > [@](#): > > it is important for consumers calling 911 from wireless phones to remember the following…If your wireless phone is not “initialized” (i.e., _you do not have a contract for service with a wireless service provider_), and your emergency call gets disconnected, you must call the emergency operator back because he or she does not have your telephone number and cannot contact you. (italics mine) In other words, like the speed of light and gravity, it’s not just a good idea, it’s the law. ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-all-cell-phones-will-dial-911/292723/5 "2005-03-03T06:19:27Z")
Ah yes, there it is. > [@](#): > > The FCC’s Basic 911 rules: > > ``` > Require wireless carriers to transmit all 911 calls to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), regardless of whether the caller subscribes to the carrier's service or not. (*ibid*) > > ``` ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-all-cell-phones-will-dial-911/292723/6 "2005-03-03T06:20:56Z")
> [@Rico](#): > > Ah yes, there it is. Wow. Time to dump this unsed cell phone and get another one! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-all-cell-phones-will-dial-911/292723/7 "2005-03-03T13:29:58Z")
I had a GSM phone without a SIM card that couldn’t be used for any outgoing calls, even 911. Without the SIM, you couldn’t dial - period. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-all-cell-phones-will-dial-911/292723/8 "2005-03-03T13:57:21Z")
Without a sim, you don’t have a functioning phone. You need an operable phone. Can’t dial 911 without power, either. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-all-cell-phones-will-dial-911/292723/9 "2005-03-03T20:45:17Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > FWIW, I have a cell phone that is currently not connected to an established service provider. The battery is good. I just dialled 911. I might as well have used a landline phone where the line cord isn’t plugged in because the result was the same. Do you know for sure that you were within range of a tower or a 911 call center? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-all-cell-phones-will-dial-911/292723/10 "2005-03-03T20:52:31Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > I had a GSM phone without a SIM card that couldn’t be used for any outgoing calls, even 911. Without the SIM, you couldn’t dial - period. When I got my latest phone it came with a default SIM card which could be used to dial 911 if necessary. When I brought it in to be activated they replaced it with a new SIM card. It’s pretty difficult to get a phone without a SIM card these days unless you’re getting it secondhand. ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-all-cell-phones-will-dial-911/292723/11 "2005-03-04T02:01:51Z")
When processing a land-line E911 call, the telephone switch sends an ALI and ANI to the nearest PSAP. I can see where a cell phone would have an ANI, but how about the ALI? ANI = automatic number identifier (the phone number of the E911 caller, like caller-id) ALI = automatic location identifier (the address of where the land-line phone is installed) PSAP = public service answering point (emergency dispatch office) ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-all-cell-phones-will-dial-911/292723/12 "2005-03-04T02:20:05Z")
Newer cell phones in the US are required to have some position location capability. > [@](#): > > The wireless E911 program is divided into two parts - Phase I and Phase II. Phase I requires carriers, upon appropriate request by a local Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), to report the telephone number of a wireless 911 caller and the location of the antenna that received the call. Phase II requires wireless carriers to provide far more precise location information, within 50 to 300 meters in most cases. [http://www.fcc.gov/911/enhanced/](http://www.fcc.gov/911/enhanced/) ---
**Author:** ![mks57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@mks57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mks57)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-all-cell-phones-will-dial-911/292723/13 "2005-03-04T03:16:12Z")
There have been problems in the past with completing 911 calls from cell phones under certain circumstances. These involve things like being in an area without coverage from the subscriber’s provider, lack of roaming agreements, inability of the phone to select a carrier that does have coverage, improper programming of phones. [http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Wireless/News\_Releases/1999/nrwl9016.html](http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Wireless/News_Releases/1999/nrwl9016.html) ---
**Author:** ![jhinman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/779978/32.png) [@jhinman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jhinman)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-all-cell-phones-will-dial-911/292723/14 "2005-03-04T08:24:46Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > Without a sim, you don’t have a functioning phone. > > You need an operable phone. Can’t dial 911 without power, either. I have had 5 GSM phones, Nokia 5190,6190,7190,6340 and a Motorola v400 and all 5 could dial 911 (and only 911) without a SIM card inserted. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-all-cell-phones-will-dial-911/292723/15 "2005-03-04T16:06:26Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > FWIW, I have a cell phone that is currently not connected to an established service provider. The battery is good. I just dialled 911. I might as well have used a landline phone where the line cord isn’t plugged in because the result was the same. I know you said that the call didn’t go through, but I think it’s a bad idea to call 911 just to see if you can. This is one of the ways the system gets overloaded. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-all-cell-phones-will-dial-911/292723/16 "2005-03-04T18:35:26Z")
> [@jhinman](#): > > I have had 5 GSM phones, Nokia 5190,6190,7190,6340 and a Motorola v400 and all 5 could dial 911 (and only 911) without a SIM card inserted. Well, your case is different. I was adressing someone else. To make it a general announcement: You need a phone capable of functioning. If you phone doesn’t work without “X”, then you need “X” to test the 911 service. ---
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-all-cell-phones-will-dial-911/292723/17 "2005-03-05T00:10:32Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > Well, your case is different. I was adressing someone else. To make it a general announcement: You need a phone capable of functioning. If you phone doesn’t work without “X”, then you need “X” to test the 911 service. I would have thought that all GSM phones could do this… My old nokia could, and my newer motorola can too. When I start it up with no SIM then it says, “insert SIM” or whatever until I try to dial a 9 then it lets me dial 911, it also works with 112, which is the 911 of some other countries. ---
**Author:** ![Saranga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Saranga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saranga)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2005, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-all-cell-phones-will-dial-911/292723/18 "2005-03-05T19:54:38Z")
I have two different model Nokia cell phones and one SIM card I swap between them. One of them will not function at all without a SIM card. The other (older but more expensive) one will dial 911 without a SIM. I’ve never bothered to work out the logistics of keeping a spare _charged_ phone in the car at all times.