E911: The Killer Wireless App?
BY KRISTY BASSUENER
NOVEMBER 6, 2001
Mobile industry experts have pondered what the so-called 'killer' wireless
application will be for Americans, and carriers have scrambled to beef up
offerings -- especially in the realm of mobile data. But a new survey
commissioned by wireless retailer LetsTalk.com shows that data apps are far
from many people's minds in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
According to a survey of more than 1,000 Americans aged 18 or older, 59 percent
said that the ability for rescue workers to locate them in an emergency was the
most important feature for a mobile phone to have. Seven percent chose e-mail
as the most important, while 4 percent picked a built-in camera feature.
When asked what was the second most important feature to them, 23 percent
said e-mail. Eleven percent chose the camera and 6 percent chose 911 caller
location services. The survey was conducted by Harris Interactive for LetsTalk.
'This survey shows that in the minds of Americans new features such as video
games, MP3 players, and email take a back seat to safety and security,' says
Delly Tamer, president and chief executive of LetsTalk.com. 'While wireless
carriers face significant expense and complex issues regarding the
implementation of E911 capabilities, this survey shows that it is a feature in
great demand.'
Americans watched in horror as the two towers of the World Trade Center
crumbled and the Pentagon burned as a result of terrorist attacks on Sept. 11. In
the aftermath, news reports of victims using mobile phones calling for help or to
make a final call to loved ones resonated with the public. However, a report last
week from the Wireless Emergency Response Team concluded there were no live
calls made from the rubble after the twin towers collapsed.
U.S. carriers have struggled to meet the second phase of the FCC's requirements
on caller location. Most carriers have met a portion of the requirement, but have
not complied completely. Enhanced 911 requires carriers to pinpoint callers'
locations between 50 and 300 meters. |
