Cell Phones Require GPS

Cell Phones Require GPS

August 2, 2005

By the end of this year all cell phones will require global-positioning systems and so far it has not been an easy task to make the switch. The Federal Communications Commission's mandate states that 95% of all wireless customers be equipped with digital phones that contains a chip that pinpoints a users location for 911 calls.

According to Cellcom, located in Wisconsin, the biggest task that they have in front of them is getting customers to trade in their old phones. All of the phones they currently offer are all up to mandate. "Many customers are happy with their old phones. Their phones have every service feature they want. We're not giving customers a compelling enough reason to change to a new phone just because it's GPS-equipped," said the manager of government relations at Cellcom.

Cellcom has used several approaches to entice customers to make the switch. Promotions, sales and free phone offers have been thrown at their customers. Cell phone companies who do not meet the FCC's standards could face a fine. Cellcom has also asked the FCC for an extension but so far nothing has been granted.

Most cell phones will eventually need to be replaced, especially older out of date models because of battery life or other malfunctions that can occur. The question is how to get customers to make the change now before the end of the year. The FCC is also mandating phasing out analog service and soon all cell service and phones will be digital forcing analog users to make the switch.

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