All phones must have GPS: Indian Govt

In order to improve security for women and enhance accountability of security force, Indian government decided that every mobile that is sold in the country should have an in-built panic button and global positioning system (GPS). The first one was already in force as per government orders and it started from January 1, 2017.

Now the second one, i.e. the GPS facility will be implemented from January 1, 2018. In other words, every mobile phone should have GPS facility in order to be sold in Indian market from January 1, 2018.

This order was passed by the Ministry of Communications under Section 10 of the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act of 1933.

The facility of having an in-built GPS would help locate someone in times of a crisis.

As per the new rule, the current phones that are available in the market won’t be considered legal from January 1, 2018.

At present, there are many smartphones that do not have an in-built GPS. These phones are available below ₹1,500 and many people are buying them. The smartphones which have a GPS facility are priced at ₹3,000 which is not affordable by many people.

The government wants a panic button or power button so that it will be helpful in times of crisis by dialing the emergency helpline. However, it is a doubt whether manufacturing companies would follow this for a single country.

Currently, only top-end smartphones have the option of dialing an emergency number on locked screen, yet dialing 100 does not appear to work on iPhone in India.

There is also another proposal that Indian government wants to roll out a single number 112 which is equivalent to 911 in the United States.

At present, different emergency numbers are there for police, fire service, ambulance and Emergency Disaster Management.

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