Estimates for 2008 place the number of text messages sent at 189 billion.  Cell phone cameras are used to fight crime and prosecute criminals, the pictures that could be taken on the scene of an emergency could be invaluable to emergency responders enroute.  Automated crash notifications are reported to be at 100,000 since the technology became available.

At the Virginia Tech shooting, 31 students sent text messages to the 911 call center. None were received.

Why? We, nation-wide,  do not have the technology. You will hear much in the upcoming year about Next -Generation 911, (NG9-1-1)  that is the move to upgrade all of the public safety answering points (PSAPs) in the state of  North Dakota to operate on a network, built on a broadband Internet Protocol (IP) backbone. The transition to NG9-1-1, will require an investment of money and time and cooperation, involving national, state, regional, and local coordination.  The design incorporates the visions of various national agencies and organizations that have been charged with conceptualizing this new system. Built on the work of the National Emergency  Number Association (NENA), the Network Reliability and Interoperability Council (NRIC) (an advisory group to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)), and the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) NG9-1-1 Initiative.

Please support this effort in anyway you can, there will be upcoming legislation in support of the 911 fee structure, I will try to post information as I receive it. Check back often.

AND AS ALWAYS PLEASE REMEMBER:

When calling 911 from the road, please keep your cellular phone by the window or dash or step just outside of the door.

Satellites need to send a signal to the GPS chip in your phone only then, can 911 dispatchers  capture your location.