'Mobile panic button needs to be backed by emergency helpline'

To ensure safety of women in threatening situations, panic buttons installed on mobile phones should be integrated with a 24x7 emergency helpline, supported by quick response teams either by the local authorities or a service provider, domestic on-demand safety service provider One Touch Response said on Monday.

"The panic button in mobile handsets, supported with a helpline and a strong on-ground response team can revolutionise the safety mindset of all, and particularly of women in our country," said Arvind Khanna, founder, One Touch Response (OTR), in a statement.

Last month, the department of telecommunications (DoT) issued a circular notifying all mobile phone handset manufacturers to install a panic button and global positioning system (GPS) in all handsets by January 2017 and January 2018, respectively.

In terms of modalities, the DoT has notified that all feature phones should have the facility of panic button configured to the numeric key 5 or 9 and all smartphones will have the panic button configured to three times short pressing of the on-off button.

"The DoT notification gives us an impetus to collaborate with mobile phone companies by integrating our services and technologies towards addressing this pressing and urgent requirement," Khanna said.

According to the company, with OTR's open Application Program Interface (API), mobile phone companies can integrate the service directly in the phones, bringing an assured quick response to customers who are in situations that are threatening their personal safety and security.

While smartphones can integrate the OTR app, feature phones can also take advantage of the OTR solution by integrating its SOS service with the SMS system, the company added.

One Touch Response provides 'First Response' and 'Immediate Assistance' services to its customers whenever they are faced with any real life situation involving personal safety or situations where they require assistance.

--IANS

vr/na/bg