Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Five cities test new 911 system

|
|
 
  
Published: July 9, 2008 at 9:01 AM

WASHINGTON, July 9 (UPI) -- A new national emergency system that takes advantage of the latest technology is being tested in five cities across the United States, officials say.

The system allows communications with police and other emergency personnel by text message or through Voice over Internet Protocol and also makes use of navigation services, USA Today reported Wednesday.

Under the system, emergency personnel will be able to pin down the location of calls from a wireless network more quickly and reroute calls if an emergency center becomes incapacitated.

Linda Dodge, a public safety coordinator with the U.S. Department of Transportation, told USA Today the government has spent $5.6 million on the project, most of it for research.

Officials estimate it could take eight to 10 years before all of the nation's 911 centers have been upgraded to the new technology.

Cities testing the system are Rochester, N.Y.; Bozeman, Mont.; King County, Wash.; St. Paul, Minn.; and Fort Wayne, Ind.

Topics: Emergency Center
© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
The Tibetan Moniam Festival in China Super Bowl XLVI ticker tape victory parade The making of the Oscars
The Chicago Auto Show The Most Desirable Women of 2012 Tu Bishvat Migron settlement
Additional Top News Stories
1 of 30
Valentine's Day Ramallah, West Bank
View Caption
fark
Despite having a court order against her, man interrupts domestic battery case against his girlfriend...
Empire State building IPO issued. Subby also has a bridge to sell you as well
Reverend Sun Myung Moon cedes mass wedding business to Morning Zoo dj's, let's see if anybody notices...
"No, your honor. It's just a social club. That hangs out in the woods. With high powered rifles....
New SI swimsuit cover girl is Republican congressman's niece
Can't sleep. Must eat Pope in woods. And wear his hat. Or something