Got a tip for us? Share it...
• • RSS

iPhone 2.1 Emergency Call Anyone - Bug or Feature?

Wednesday September 17, 2008 9:42 am PDT by Arnold Kim
One reader tipped us off that the iPhone's emergency call feature can be used to call any phone number and not just designated "emergency" numbers such as 911.

The emergency call feature is available even when your iPhone is passcode locked, and raised this reader's concern that your mobile minutes could be used without your knowledge.

In searching the internet, it appears that this issue has been around since at least firmware 2.0.2, though there appears to be some debate about whether or not it is an intentional feature.

If your iPhone is actually stolen, you will presumably discontinue service and that would prevent ongoing usage of your minutes. But it still leaves opens up the possibility of intermittent unauthorized usage.
[ 67 comments ]

Top Rated Comments

(View all)

Avatar
lozanoj83
Posted: 48 months ago
Yeah you're right
just locked my phone right now.. emergency call, called my house it called without a hitch...

hmm this is weird
they fixed the bug were you could technically view the contents of the iPhone
yet now, you can call whoever you want on the emergency call windows...

apple's dropping the ball with all of these updates
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
Avatar
Ntombi
Posted: 48 months ago
I think of if as a feature.

I have life-threatening allergies, and I have an emergency contact number (along with the location of my Epi-Pen) on my lock screen.

If someone needs to use my phone while I'm incapacitated, I'm good with that.

Not to mention, emergency numbers aren't always 911 (or the international equivalents), especially in rural areas and places like parks and mountains.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
Avatar
KT Walrus
Posted: 48 months ago
Last year, I found an iPhone that was locked and I had no way of contacting the owner to return it. But, then I used the emergency call feature to call my home phone number and the caller ID gave me the number of the iPhone. I called that and left a message and was able to eventually track down the owner and return the phone.

Anyway, this "feature" has been around for at least a year and probably from the beginning.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
Avatar
TEG
Posted: 48 months ago
I would have thought that they would have preprogrammed the phone with the different primary emergency number for the world. Then Ntombi reminded me that not all emergencies require those number. As a compromise, they should allow for a call list on the phone for emergency contacts, including your ICE number (In Case of Emergency), which should be an automatic button on the emergency call screen.

Also, remember, that if the SIM is removed, you will only be able to call Emergency Numbers for the region.

TEG
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
Avatar
Kwill
Posted: 48 months ago
Emergency call might need to be to a friend or relative.

Odd instructions for my area are as follows...

In emergency dial 911, state:
"I live in City of LA Reporting District XXXX."
Then phone Sheriff directly.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
Avatar
vetteandi
Posted: 48 months ago
Just a thought here, I just recently sold my old EDGE Iphone on ebay. ATT Deactivated the SIM and ported my # over to the 3G phone. I also did a wipe of the phone but when it came up it was in the Emergency activate state. I recall that I did put 2.1 firmware on before I shipped it.
Could this be used to still make calls on my account??? I would think once the SIM is deactivated that any calls being made would not go through.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
Avatar
myjellyass
Posted: 48 months ago
I'd consider it a feature if there was an option to change it somewhere, so Ntombi you'd obviously want to allow outgoing calls whereas I would probably not... If I had an iPhone...
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
Avatar
BlkCav
Posted: 48 months ago
its been like that since 2.0, I was wondering how long it would take somebody important to notice.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
Avatar
dexinsf
Posted: 48 months ago
this is not a bug it has been that way since the first iPhone back in 2007. I have had all the upgrades to software since the 1.0 and the emergency feature has always been able to call any number. Like the other guy said if your phone is stolen just call AT&T and let them know.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
Avatar
caliguy
Posted: 48 months ago
I found out about this a few months ago when my friend at work called his phone with my iPhone, even though my iPhone was on lock. I thought he was tricking me somehow. Kind of a pointless "lock" :)
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives

[ Read All Comments ]