No SIM & 999.

RichardCoulter · 05-06-2016, 21:24

Saw an outtake last night when the actor who plays Andy Sugden in Emmerdale had to dial 999 as part of a scene.

He was shocked when it actually connected him to the emergency services!

After immediately disconnecting he protested that it wasn't his fault as nobody had told him that a SIM card was in the phone.

This got me wondering if mobile phones work with the 999 number regardless of there being a SIM present or not.

I don't want to try it for obvious reasons, but it might be useful one day to know the answer to this.

**Hugh** · 05-06-2016, 21:41

No, they can't

http://www.redcross.org.uk/What-we-d...activities/999

Quote:

Can you call 999 from a pay-as-you-go mobile phone that has run out of credit? What about one whose keypad is locked? Or doesn't have a SIM card?

Yes, you don't need credit because calls to 999 or 112 are free. It's part of the design of phones that these numbers can be called even if the phone is locked. Some people think that 999 calls can be made from a phone without a SIM. In fact, because of the high number of hoax calls, the United Kingdom decided to block emergency calls from mobile phones without a SIM card.

RichardCoulter · 06-06-2016, 00:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh

No, they can't

http://www.redcross.org.uk/What-we-d...activities/999

Thanks Hugh, it's useful to know the correct position.

Sometimes (I guess due to a poor signal) mobile phones say '999 calls only'.

I've always wondered how this could be achieved in an emergency as if it can't pick up enough signal to make a normal phone call, how is it able to connect to 999?

Stop It · 06-06-2016, 07:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Thanks Hugh, it's useful to know the correct position.

Sometimes (I guess due to a poor signal) mobile phones say '999 calls only'.

I've always wondered how this could be achieved in an emergency as if it can't pick up enough signal to make a normal phone call, how is it able to connect to 999?

Because it'll use someone else's network. (So an O2 Sim can use an EE signal for 999/112 for example).

If there's no signal available at of course you wont be able to phone the emergency services.

Osem · 06-06-2016, 09:26

So presumably a backup phone with a SIM in it won't be usable for emergency calls if the SIM has been disabled due to it being inactive for 90 days or whatever. I wasn't too worried because of the 'emergency calls only' option which is displayed but I didn't realise is SIM dependent.

I'd wager a whole lot of folks have rarely used phones they think will be able to make emergency calls but won't, especially older folk like my MIL.

Stephen · 06-06-2016, 11:13

Well it would need a SIM in it so it can lock on or connect to a network.

So no SIM at all would have no authorisation to access any networks.

Osem · 06-06-2016, 13:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen

Well it would need a SIM in it so it can lock on or connect to a network.

So no SIM at all would have no authorisation to access any networks.

But if the SIM is present but has been deactivated the same will apply won't it? Therein is the problem for anyone who's using an old phone with a non-functioning SIM and thinks they'll be able to call 999 but won't. I've just put an old deactivated SIM in a very old Samsung phone and up has come the 'emergency calls only' option. Presumably it won't work.

Scary · 06-06-2016, 14:50

you do need an active sim but all providers by law have to allow all carriers to use either there network or mast to connect an emergency call

RichardCoulter · 06-06-2016, 15:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stop It

Because it'll use someone else's network. (So an O2 Sim can use an EE signal for 999/112 for example).

If there's no signal available at of course you wont be able to phone the emergency services.

I thought that they all worked together like this for normal calls anyway

Quote:

Originally Posted by Osem

So presumably a backup phone with a SIM in it won't be usable for emergency calls if the SIM has been disabled due to it being inactive for 90 days or whatever. I wasn't too worried because of the 'emergency calls only' option which is displayed but I didn't realise is SIM dependent.

I'd wager a whole lot of folks have rarely used phones they think will be able to make emergency calls but won't, especially older folk like my MIL.

Exactly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen

Well it would need a SIM in it so it can lock on or connect to a network.

So no SIM at all would have no authorisation to access any networks.

Worth noting that this only applies in the UK due to the fear of hoax calls. Anyone caught out abroad should be fine to contact the relevant emergency number.

Hom3r · 06-06-2016, 18:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stop It

Because it'll use someone else's network. (So an O2 Sim can use an EE signal for 999/112 for example).

If there's no signal available at of course you wont be able to phone the emergency services.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

I thought that they all worked together like this for normal calls anyway

.

I wish.

I work in a building with 1ft thick walls, and a few areas get a 1/2 decent signal.

Osem · 06-06-2016, 21:04

In my experience there's a big problem with 3. Whereas most networks can utilise both 2g and 3g for basics like calls and texts, 3 can't so where there's no 3G signal '3' users get nothing at all.

Scary · 07-06-2016, 16:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hom3r

I wish.

I work in a building with 1ft thick walls, and a few areas get a 1/2 decent signal.

there are phones out there that you can duel sim so if one network gets no signal the other will kick in.

RichardCoulter · 08-06-2016, 01:14

Whilst travelling we noticed that our mobile phones automatically changed from the UK provider to the operator in the new location.

I honestly assumed that they all worked together and piggy backed into each other's networks for everybody's mutual benefit.

Scary · 08-06-2016, 16:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Whilst travelling we noticed that our mobile phones automatically changed from the UK provider to the operator in the new location.

I honestly assumed that they all worked together and piggy backed into each other's networks for everybody's mutual benefit.

as of last year Vodafone and 02 are doing a mast share in certain areas and will be extended in the future, i have also heard that virgin and 3 are doing a mast share. but they will never all band together (unless ofcom tell them they have to) as coverage is one of the main reasons people go to that provider.