September 13, 2004

By: Wendy Whittaker
Website: http://www.1st-in-cell-phones.com

Surcharges Fund Location Of Cell Phone User

Municipalities are looking for ways to fund new technology that will help emergency services pinpoint the location of cell phone user. Global Positioning Systems (GPS) now make it possible to determine the location of cell phone users who dial 911.

Across the country, cities and counties are upgrading their 911 systems with the GPS technology. In one Iowa community, 60 percent of calls to the 911 dispatcher are made from cell phones. Without GPS, the location of a cell phone is a hit and miss proposition. The location is determined by the tower the phone's call came from. Dispatchers can tell the general direction and the approximate distance from that tower. Still, emergency personnel might have to search a fairly large area to locate the cell phone user who dialed 911.

When GPS technology is installed at emergency centers, the location of cell phone users is determined by longitude and latitude. In other words, the EMTs or firefighters will know the pinpoint location of the cell phone user who made the call. Twenty-four states will have the GPS phones upgrades installed by the end of the year.

While everyone agrees it’s important to be able to quickly determine the location of cellular users in emergency situations, cash-strapped governments are not able to fund the new technology for phones. Many municipalities are passing the costs on to cell phone users. In some areas of the country, monthly surcharges are being added to cell phone bills.

Also See: cheap prepaid cell phones.

About The Author:

Wendy Whittaker is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-cell-phones.com.  A cellular phone industry resource featuring articles, comparisons and reviews of cellular phone and service plans.