This is why I created a Syndicated Feed for Snopes on InsaneJournal...

[liz_marcs]

ETA Electric Boogaloo:

It turns out that text below the cut is a rare muff by the Urban Legends Reference Pages. The usually accurate Snopes was explaining the difference between the E911 only call and the "Location On" option that's found on cell phones.

As it turns out, they got the difference wrong (or, in reading it over, I think it was misleadingly worded).

As tabrumj explains here: Most modern cell phones sold today have E911, which allows a properly equipped dispatching center to get your GPS information when you actually dial 911. The "Location On" option pretty much means your GPS position can be tracked at any time, with the cell phone company holding the data.

tabrumj's explanation is backed up on this CNet review of the Audiovox CDM-9500 phone.

Apologies for misleading anyone.

Also, big thanks to first_spike for answering my question about how this same process works outside North America.

So, in short, leave your phone on E911. It's more than sufficient to cover your emergency needs (again, provided the answering dispatch center is properly equipped).



The Urban Legends Reference Pages has an interesting write-up about what your cell phone's "Location On" option does.

As always, the original rumor was misleading, but came with a bonus grain of truth. Here's the important bit:

...When a cell phone in the (default) "E911 Only" setting is used to call 911, the handset transmits information that allows PSAPs to retrieve data (e.g., the caller's telephone number, the address of the telephone's registered owner) from an Automatic Location Identification (ALI) database, information which they may be able to use to dispatch emergency services to the correct address (even if the caller is unable to supply it). When a phone in the "Location On" setting is used to call 911, the handset also transmits GPS information which PSAPs can use to determine the caller's location with a fair degree of precision (i.e., to within 50 to 300 meters), information that is especially useful if the caller is lost and/or stranded in a remote area. Neither setting allows a cell phone to be traceable "all the time" — in both cases, the user must place a call to 911 before any location information will be sent to emergency services dispatchers.

(Keep in mind that all of this information is variable — whether this particular feature will work, and how well, depends upon factors such as the model of handset you use, which carrier provides your wireless service, what equipment is available to whomever you call, where you're calling from, and current atmospheric conditions.)

Now that is a nice piece of information to know, especially if you're calling 911 from your cell and you're in an unfamiliar place or aren't sure of your exact location.

*switches cell location option from "911 only" to "location on"*

ETA: I'm not sure if this actually applies outside of the U.S., so I guess this is information my U.S.-based peeps might find interesting.

Comments

[tabrumj.livejournal.com]

Before I begin, let me say that I worked for one of the major Cell Phone companies in a support position at the time that the E911 initiative was begun.

This is the first time I have ever seen Snopes get their details flat out wrong. When you call in to a 911 centre that has E911 capabilities, and you are using a modern phone, it will include your GPS data. This is required by Federal Law, and is the reason why every new phone sold in the U.S. now had a GPS function. However as long as E911 Only is selected on your phone, the only time that this data should be available is when you dial 911.

If you select Location On, your data is available to be requested through the Cell Phone company. This allows for a number of interesting possibilities like delivery comapnies using GPS tracking programs via phone. Policies on how location on is handled varied from comapny to company. In some cases if you have Location ON, anyone can input your cellphone number into an appropriate prgram to track you. In most cases, you have to specifically subscribe to a service for your phone that allows them to query your phone and track your GPS system. In all cases if you select E911 only, no tracking program will be able to follow you.

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

Do you mind if I put up a correction and link to this explanation?

I dug around on my own (I hope you don't mind), and found the evidence to back you up. Snopes blew this one, which is surprising since they're usually fairly accurate.

That's what I for not confirming on my own.

Thanks for the correction.

[tabrumj.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I could do so. I was rather shocked to see Snopes get soemthing wrong, usually they are the best debunkers on the web.

And I don't mind at all if you put up a correction and link.

[first-spike.livejournal.com]

GSM (the digital mobile phone system used pretty much everywhere outside North American) can determine the location of any working handset, without GPS or special phone settings. If the handset's in range of at least three base stations (ie, it's in a decent coverage area), triangulation gives a reasonably accurate fix; if not, the location of the base station in contact with the handset gives a rough position.

Networks automatically attempt a fix on any handset calling the emergency numbers and pass the location on to the emergency service operator (PSAP, in your lingo). That's been the case in the UK for some years now.

GSM also logs the id of the base station a handset uses to initiate a call. This info has been used as forensic evidence: at that time, the handset was such-and-such a distance from the scene of the alleged incident, sort of thing.

Location services are on sale, too, including one to help track mobile employees, and another to allow parents/guardians to track their children. Both have been available for several years. Some operators have offered a range of put me through to the nearest... services as well.

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the explanation. I hope you don't mind, but I linked to it in the correction I put up in the main post.