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Because of the shut down of the analog phone system by the cellular
companies, analog phone users were no longer able to dial 911 after February 19.
More than a million cell phone users lost access to 911 that day, as AT&T,
Mobility, Alltel, Cellular One, Dobson, US Cellular, Verizon Wireless and some
other cellular providers turned off their analog networks. Digital phone users
will not be affected by this shutdown. Digital phones differ from analog phones
in that they can have text or instant messaging capabilities, Internet browsing
capabilities, an MP3 player, or integrated camera or a SIM card. Most cell
phones that are more than 5 years old are analog. The National Emergency Number
Association advises those who cannot tell if their phones will be affected by
this change to take them to any local cellular phone retail location for
assistance.
If you received a free 911 use only cell phone from the Mount Prospect Police
Department, take your phone to any local cell phone retail provider and ask them
to check your 911 use only cell phone and let you know if your phone is analog
and whether or not it is affected by this change. If your phone is analog and
will not call 911 after February 19, the Mount Prospect Police Department will
try and replace them with digital 911 use only cell phones. However, only a very
limited amount of newer digital phones are available at this time at the Mount
Prospect Police Department. Obviously, as more digital phones are donated, the
more will be available for replacements. We have given out over 600 911-use only
cell phones to Mount Prospect residents since 2003; therefore, we will do our
best to accommodate you. Questions, call the Mount Prospect Police Department
Crime Prevention Unit at 870-5650. | 
