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GPS Enabled
159
Even where location information can be calculated in such situations, it may take
much longer to do so, and your location estimate may not be as accurate.
Therefore, in any 911 call, always report the location to the emergency response
center if you can and if you cannot, remain on your Smartphone for as long as the
emergency response center instructs you.
Even where adequate signals from multiple satellites are available, your GPS
feature will only provide an approximate location, often within 150 feet (45 meters)
but sometimes much further from your actual location. Advice on how to improve
GPS performance is provided in “Enhancing GPS Performance” on page 161.
While the GPS feature of your Smartphone can be a valuable navigational aid, it does
not replace the need for careful navigating and good judgment. Never rely solely on
one device for navigation. Remember that the accuracy of the location information and
the time needed to obtain it will vary depending on circumstances, particularly the ability
to receive signals from adequate numbers of satellites.
On emergency calls, your Smartphone uses assistance information from the
Smartphone network to improve the speed and accuracy of your Smartphone’s location
calculation: if such assistance information becomes unavailable, it may reduce the speed
and accuracy of the location calculation.
The satellites used by the GPS feature of your Smartphone are controlled by the U.S.
government and are subject to changes implemented in accordance with the Department
of Defense GPS user policy and the Federal Radionavigation Plan. These changes may
affect the performance of the GPS feature of your Smartphone.
Making an Emergency Call
Dial 911 to be connected to an emergency response center.
When you make an emergency 911 call, the GPS feature of your Smartphone begins to
seek information to calculate your approximate location. It will take the GPS feature of
your Smartphone some time to determine your approximate location. Even where
your Smartphone has good access to sufficient GPS satellite signals and network assist
data, it may take 30 seconds or more to determine the approximate location. This time
will increase where there is reduced access to satellite signals. When your approximate
location is determined, it is made available to the appropriate emergency response
center.
In some cases, your local 911 emergency response center may not be equipped to
receive GPS location information. For this reason, and because the GPS location
information reported is only approximate or may not be available in your location (see
“IMPORTANT: Things to Keep in Mind” on page 158), always report your location to
the 911 operator you speak to when making an emergency call, if able, just as you
would when using a phone without GPS capabilities.
Note: If you are concerned about whether your local 911 emergency response center
is equipped to receive GPS location information, contact your local authorities.
In general, if your Smartphone has access to signals from more GPS satellites, your
location will be determined faster and more accurately than if your Smartphone has
access to signals from fewer GPS satellites.
If your Smartphone does not have adequate access to GPS satellites signals, the
location of the nearest cell tower in contact with your Smartphone is automatically made
available to the emergency response center, if the center has the capability to receive
such information.