free cell phones for emergency only?

[fancy818]

I was wondering if anyone knows of a place that would issue a free cell phone for emergency only? And free for a diabled persons, my location is Michigan, I know some states do this for seniors but this person is in a wheelchair & goes out of the home and needs it only if they need to call for emergency purposes.

[ttistin]

you might want to call your local social services, they could tell you, or tell you who to call.

[farmmnger]

The police station here gives out emergency phones. You could check with yours. The cellphone company I worked for gave them to man who would pickup alot once a week to distribute through his organization.

[Kelsey1224]

Originally posted by fancy818
I was wondering if anyone knows of a place that would issue a free cell phone for emergency only? And free for a diabled persons, my location is Michigan, I know some states do this for seniors but this person is in a wheelchair & goes out of the home and needs it only if they need to call for emergency purposes.

When you say emergency...do you mean to call a family member in emergency or to call 911?

I work for Disney and they have a drive to collect old phones once a year. The phones are sent back to a phone manufacturer (motorola I believe) which programs them to call 911 only. I actually think they are mailed to somewhere in Michigan.

It is my understanding that these are donated to women's shelters and places like that.

[fancy818]

I mean 911 and I am not a senior, I have MS and really would like a cell phone free of charge when out of the home to call 911 if needed!

[mlathroum]

My church is doing that also. Contact your local church and see if they are. They said there are too many people that need just a phone for 911 and too many people that change their phones all the time.

[krisharry]

I have a cellphone I don't use, I don't know if it can
be programmed to just call 911 or not, I thought that
even if the service was shut off to the phone you
could still call 911. Anyway, if you find out about
that I will dig it out of my closet and RAOK it to you.
PLMK It will take a few days at least to access my
closet. LOL

[cpbaby]

Yes, the cell phone companies dont want you to knwo it, but as long as there is reception, you can call 911 form ANY cellphone, even if it isnt activated. Thats ALL you can call, but you can call.

[Merryg]

Originally posted by cpbaby
Yes, the cell phone companies dont want you to knwo it, but as long as there is reception, you can call 911 form ANY cellphone, even if it isnt activated. Thats ALL you can call, but you can call.

Is this true? We have 2 phones that are not activated anymore PLUS a dumb ol' prepaid phone that we wasted our money on for a road trip that we never needed!! I would love to be able to carry it around knowing I am able to call 911 on it without it being activated!

[fancy818]

Thanks to everyone for there replies and I guess I need to find out who has a good used cell phone that would connect good to 911 with out no problems and maybe get something going with people who want to get rid of there old cell phones to help people like myself who could use one in a emergency situation only! If anyone wants to email me [email protected]

[cpbaby]

http://web.idirect.com/~aaa/p0000003.htm

-FCC- The Federal Communications Commission is the government agency responsible for regulating telecommunications and cellular phones in the United States. New FCC rules mandate that cellular phones without a monthly service contract be able to make free 911 calls any where in the US. The FCC cellular 911 ruling takes effect December 1, 1997 and requires carriers to accept 911 calls from non-validated phones (not activated with a monthly service contract) and forward the cellular 911 call to the local public safety answering point PSAP (911 answering center). For more information about new emergency 911 safety cellular phones with no monthly service fee click on the links at the top or bottom of this page.


Hope this helps!!

[ahippiechic]

Originally posted by cpbaby
http://web.idirect.com/~aaa/p0000003.htm

-FCC- The Federal Communications Commission is the government agency responsible for regulating telecommunications and cellular phones in the United States. New FCC rules mandate that cellular phones without a monthly service contract be able to make free 911 calls any where in the US. The FCC cellular 911 ruling takes effect December 1, 1997 and requires carriers to accept 911 calls from non-validated phones (not activated with a monthly service contract) and forward the cellular 911 call to the local public safety answering point PSAP (911 answering center). For more information about new emergency 911 safety cellular phones with no monthly service fee click on the links at the top or bottom of this page.


Hope this helps!!

We get alot of cell phones left behind in the apts, or ones we've had to store & no one picks up. We give these to a local church to give out to people who need them, so they can call 911 if needed. If you want me to send you one, just PM me.

[fancy818]

These used cell phones I am sure have a battery that goes with them and I want to know how long do the batteries last and if one would go bad, then how can it call 911 in a emergency? Or how do you charge them? You can tell I have never owned a cell phone, I really never thought I might need one til now that I have MS, and I never know when I might need to call for help outside my home? I also want to thank everyone for so much information and I have learned some good things from you people & so nice to know you care!

[jaybird]

Cell phone battery life depends on how much it's used. If you have one with a decent battery, and keep it charged up (while turned off, at home) it will last a fair amount of time. And if you only need it to call 9-1-1, then you wouldn't have to keep the phone turned on. Just turn it on when you need it. I have one here, but the battery is dead as a doornail and it's about $30 for a battery, I think. IF they still make batteries for this model, since it's discontinued.

[jaybird]

www.emergencycellphones.com

www.mobile911alarms.com

www.911phone.net


I believe all these sites charge for the phone though...

[jaybird]

Many people buy cell phones to keep in the car for "emergency use only." They often pay rates such as $15/month, one-time sign-up $150 service fees. These fees are NOT necessary.

You can use a used cell phone to call 911 without paying anything at all. Cell phones are regulated by the FCC. The FCC requirements state that ALL cell phones, regardless of the status of service (or even the lack of service,) shall be able to dial 911. Whether you have a telephone number or not, whether you have signed up for service or not, the cell phone can connect to 911.

There are two kinds of cell phones: analog (the old, thick cell phones) and digital (the new, slim phones.) Analog phones are out of fashion because the signal wasn't very clear. But they still work. This means that you can buy an old analog phone for $10 or less at yardsales or the small shops that sell cell phones and pagers. Insist on buying it without service. Be sure to get a cigarette-lighter adapter cord with it (you can buy these at any cell phone store, Target, Walmart, and so on.) You can also buy cell phones without service at www.emergencycellphones.com or www.ebay.com. Used analog and digital phones sell for less than $25.

In many areas, you can place other calls as well. Test this by dialing a friend's number and see what happens. You may get an operator who will offer to place the call for you and bill your credit card. The call may cost as much as $3/minute. You can use this if you have a flat tire or similar.

Note about Reprogramming: In some areas, if you press 0 (zero) or dial a number, an operator will answer and ask if you want to charge the call to your credit card. In other areas, no connection will be made. If you want to be able to call roadside assistance, AAA, the police, or a friend, then it's possible to have the cell phone reprogrammed. The reprogramming enables the cell phone to make credit card calls. If you test your phone in your area and it works, and you plan to travel around the country, you may end up in an area where cell phones can't make credit card calls. www.emergencycellphones.com can reprogram phones for about $30. (I have no connection to that company.)

Keep the phone in your car under the seat (not in the glove compartment, where things are often stolen.) You don't need to recharge it or keep it charged. Just plug the phone into your car's cigarette lighter. Just plug it in, turn it on, dial 911, and it will work.

[fancy818]

Thanks jaybird for all your good information that you posted and you seem to know a lot about cell phones and I feel that I got some good learnings from all the responses, and also have learned that old cell phones that people throw off in a corner some where are very useful to others for emergency help and maybe a life saver!