All existing phones to have panic button-like feature: DoT

The Department of Telecom has asked the mobile manufacturers to install a software in all existing phones to provide a panic button like feature.

The feature would help users in case of emergency at the press of one single number. The latest direction from the DoT follows an earlier order requiring handset makers to install panic button in all new phones to be sold January 1, 2017 onwards. For existing phones, the handset makers will also have to arrange for installation of new software patch at retail outlets, DoT said in a recent order without specifying any timeline for the compliance.

 The software patch will provide facility similar to panic button which, at the press of '9' or '5', will generate a call to single emergency telephone number '112', the order said.

The 112 number facility will be active from January 1, 2017. It will gradually replace all existing emergency numbers like 100 for police, 102 for ambulance, 108 for fire service, railway crime prevention number 1512, police headquarter helpline – 1090 (Uttar Pradesh) etc. "... it is requested to install the software patch (es) in existing mobile phone handsets in the country for implementation of feature/facilities of panic button," the DoT order said.