iPhones to Make 911 Calls More Effective

iPhones will now automatically share precise location details with 911 operators during emergency calls. It's part of an overhaul of the emergency phone system for the mobile age.

The change will come in iOS12, the next edition of the Apple operating system, which will be released this fall. It means that by default the location is transmitted when the phone makes an emergency call. Apple says the data collected and shared in this process will only ever be used for emergencies. (Source: theverge.com)

Precise Location Uses Multiple Sources

It builds on a 2015 Apple feature called Hybridized Emergency Location, which calculates a user's precise location by combining multiple sources of information. These include which cellphone towers are within range, the phone's GPS location, and the combination of public WiFi networks that are within range of the phone. It even includes data from the iPhone's built-in barometer, which can combine with local weather data to estimate the device's altitude.

This goes beyond the accuracy used for apps such as Google Maps. It's only activated when needed, partly for privacy reasons and partly because it could drain batteries quickly if constantly used.

The Apple change is only one half of the equation. The key is being able to make the data available to call centers. They will be able to receive and use the data through technology from a company named RapidSOS.

Emergency Networks Outdated

The big problem is that the emergency calls network works on technology designed for landlines, but more than 80 percent of emergency calls now come from cellphones. At the simplest level, this means operators can no longer find somebody's location just by using the incoming call number. Callers can't always give their location, either because they are in distress or don't know exactly where they are.

Using cellphone location data isn't a simple measure either. Many emergency networks were only designed to carry the low bandwidth needed to carry a voice signal and don't have room for accompanying data. RapidSOS is designed to make it easier to upgrade networks.

The location data isn't simply about the dispatch of emergency services. It can also overcome problems where cellphones connect to a tower across state lines and the emergency call itself goes to the 'wrong' call center and has to be rerouted, wasting valuable time. (Source: wired.com)

What's Your Opinion?

Would you be happy for your phone to share precise location data in this way? Do you trust it not to be misused? Should all emergency call networks be upgraded to better handle cellphones, even if the cost is high?