Millions Resist Shift to Mobiles Fit for 911 Calls

[SOURCE: Wall Street Journal, AUTHOR: Amy Schatz Amy.Schatz@wsj.com]
The reluctance of millions of customers to buy newer mobile phones that allow emergency operators to pinpoint their location is creating a huge headache for some wireless companies. That's a problem because the Federal Communications Commission had set a Dec. 31, 2005, deadline for 95% of customers to have so-called E911-compliant phones. But approximately seven million consumers have resisted giving up their old cellphones. Some customers just don't want to spend the money on a new digital phone equipped with Global Positioning System technology. Others like their older phones and don't want the hassle of learning a new one. And still others live in areas without reliable digital service. Five large wireless companies -- Verizon Wireless, Qwest, Alltel, Sprint Nextel and its Nextel Partners affiliate -- have asked the FCC for more time to persuade consumers to switch, and the issue is on hold right now, as the agency considers what to do.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB113651485323539364.html?mod=todays_us_marketplace
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