Here is an interesting article on how Homeland Security can track you via the E911 capabilities of your cellphone/network. Interesting how T-mobile can track it without GPS even when phone is idle.
Link: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10451518-38.html And unfortunately Qwest isn't going to die any time soon. In many neighborhoods they already have fiber to the neighborhood box. Most non-quest DSL providers are paying Qwest to use their network. I would kill to have Utopia wired in my neighborhood. Later, Dave On Mon, Mar 8, 2010 at 5:20 PM, Corey Edwards <[email protected]> wrote: > Michael Torrie wrote: >> Doran L. Barton wrote: >>> You know... when Qwest "dies" and we're left with Comcast for suckers who >>> think Comcast's phone service is a landline (it's not. It's VOIP), well, I >>> don't really think it'll be a problem. >>> >>> I don't think Qwest is gonna die anytime soon specifically for that reason. >>> For >>> instance, no VOIP service can deliver 911 service as effectively as a real >>> POTS >>> landline. Not yet, anyway. That's something to consider if you're thinking >>> about switching away from Qwest telephone service to VOIP or just cell >>> phones. >>> It can literally add minutes to the time until an ambulance or EMT arrives >>> at >>> your location. >> >> One of my VoIP providers has you register a physical address with your >> phone number which should make response to 911 calls about the same as >> normal land lines. >> >> As for cell phones go, don't the phone companies send position info to >> the 911 centers? > > If the 911 PSAP supports E911. Well, it's a little more complicated than > that. Your carrier will register your phone number and physical address > in a database. When the call goes to 911, your carrier sends your phone > number along with it. The PSAP then looks up your phone number in the > aforementioned database to retrieve your name. This happens regardless > of whether the call came in via cell, voip, landline, etc. Cell phones > also send GPS/location data somehow but I only know the voip side of this. > > At one point 911 for voip was a mess, and it's still no picnic from the > carrier's end, but it is reliable for the user (as long as you can make > a call, of course). > > Corey > > > > /* > PLUG: http://plug.org, #utah on irc.freenode.net > Unsubscribe: http://plug.org/mailman/options/plug > Don't fear the penguin. > */ > /* PLUG: http://plug.org, #utah on irc.freenode.net Unsubscribe: http://plug.org/mailman/options/plug Don't fear the penguin. */
