Quote:
Originally Posted by asianthree
The same as a phone with down towers becomes a sat call, as posted by OP. When you no longer have cell towers, a message on your connected phone will say Emergency Call Only. Both old phone screens have in large print “ emergency calls only” When you donate old phones, they can be given to someone in need to make emergency call only.
I will give you a heads up in certain Government facilities, check your phone, that Emergency Call Only may appear. Also if you are in a medical facility, with lead lined walls for a test or procedure you will also see the same message. In certain lead lined rooms land line is your only communication.
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For older phones, Emergency Call Only means the phone will use the cellular network to dial 911 but no other numbers. It can still make these calls even if no cellular plan (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, etc) is active for the phone. It still requires the cellular network; if cell towers are down, these phones will not work at all.
Some newer cell phones (iphone 14 and up, some Androids) contain hardware and software that can connect to the same satellites that Satellite Phones use. These newer phones can send messages using the satellite networks. These phones provide the possibility of sending and receiving messages even when the cellular network is unavailable.
Not all phones will have this capability.