Stupid phone

[shmokes]

So, I have a Blackberry Pearl.  I carry it in my pocket, so I always lock the keys so I don't pocket-call people.  Unfortunately when the pearl (the little trackball/button) is pressed it brings up an option to make an emergency call.  If the option is selected and the pearl gets pressed again it will call 911 even though the keys are still locked.

I've pocket-called 911 maybe 6-10 times over the last couple years.  Once it happened twice in one night.  It's incredibly irritating.  I think the emergency call feature is a good idea, but for god's sake why tie it to the Pearl navigation?  Why not require something sensible like a series of key presses -- you know, like what is required to unlock the phone (press star and then the green phone button).  The whole point of that feature is so your phone doesn't become unlocked inadvertently.  Why not say, "Keypad is locked.  Press * [green button] to unlock, or dial 911 to place an emergency call."  Problem freaking solved!  It's such asinine design.

Normally when I pocket-call 911 an operator calls me back and asks if there is a problem and I apologize and that's that.  Tonight, though, the Miami-Dade police dept. called, identified themselves and then asked if I have any children.  I said I have a little girl and they asked if everything was alright.  I said, "Yeah, did you get a 911 call?  My stupid phone can call 911 from my pocket even when the keypad is locked." 

They said they were going to send the police to my place anyway just to be sure.  I was like, "Well . . . I'm not even there.  I'm on the road right now"  But they wanted to send someone anyway.  I had to call my wife and tell her that the cops were on their way over.  Then to make matters worse the cops went to my neighbor's door instead (duplex) and they said someone from my number called and asked the cops to come to their house.  So the neighbors called me in a panic (not recognizing the number) and asked why I had sent police to their house.  Needless to say, I told them that the police were supposed to go next door and that they weren't even supposed to go next door -- that the whole thing was an absurd mixup. 

LMAO.  The whole thing is so stupid it's hilarious.  But also pretty obnoxious.

edit: typos

[hypernova]

Get a new phone?  At some point, don't they start charging you for these false alarms?

I agree...it's a good idea, but bad execution.  Certainly you're not the only one who has this problem.

[shmokes]

What?  Of course I blame the phone.  It is designed in such a way that even when the keys are locked the phone has called 911 6-10 times (from my front pocket, FWIW).  You think a customer, who locked himself into a 2-year contract and paid a substantial sum of money for an otherwise excellent phone, should have to go out and buy a new phone (this time without the benefit of a contract subsidy)?  You think that's a reasonable solution to this problem.  Instead of, say, a firmware update from the company?  Don't be absurd.

[SavannahLion]

Heh... it used to be if you dialed 911 on my phone it actually locked the phone. Throws it into this sort of "emergency" mode that, I guess, enables the GPS(?) and prevents both incoming and outgoing calls unless they're from emergency personal. It took several minutes of panic through the manual to find how to get it out of that mode. Eventually ended up entering the service menu and disabling the complex "exit" sequence.

I get why they did it, but requiring the manual to get it out of the 911 mode is really not what I want or desire in any phone.

[Blanka]

Maybe you can load it with a European firmware. Then it dials 112. Not a big problem in the USA I guess?
They should do it like on most phones. That you can press 1-1-2 or 9-1-1 in that particular order when locked, so you need to press 3 buttons at least in the correct order.

[CheffoJeffo]

Let's see ...

• keep doing exactly same thing despite repeated occurences of the problem
• take no responsibility for the new occurences, even though you know that the same thing will happen
• blame the manufacturer

I wonder what shmokes wants to be when he grows up ....

 

PS -- get a sleeve, a holster, a new phone or learn to Google ...

Key Lock and Emergency Calls
The Pearl, like most phones includes a key lock feature so that you can put the phone in your pocket or purse without pressing buttons. However the Pearl includes an “Emergency Call” feature which can get activated while in your pocket or purse. This feature can be launched by the track ball which remains unlocked while in key lock mode. To avoid calling 911 from your pocket, don’t use the key lock feature. Instead use the standby mode by holding the mute button on top of the phone. This mode will put your phone to sleep and lock all keys and the track ball. It will save your battery life and you will still receive phone calls and message notifications. To bring your phone out of standby mode, simply press the mute button.

[Ginsu Victim]

Maybe you can load it with a European firmware. Then it dials 112. Not a big problem in the USA I guess?

112 is the number for Best Buy's Rape Squad.

You don't want them showing up 6 to 10 times.

Lame.

[ChadTower]

I used to work security in an office where some idiot would call 911 from a fax machine about 10 times a week.  No matter how many times we explained it to the woman... "THE FAXES DO NOT REQUIRE DIALING 9 TO GET AN OUTSIDE LINE... SO ON A FAX MACHINE IF YOU DIAL 9, THEN 1, THEN FOR SOME STUPID REASON ANOTHER 1, YOU HAVE CALLED 911 AND SET OF A COMPLEX CHAIN REACTION THAT COSTS THE COMPANY $700 EVERY SINGLE TIME."

BTW, I agree with everyone else, if you know it's a problem work around it.  Stop wasting public safety officials' time and blaming it on the phone.

[Kevin Mullins]

Google has also brought up mention of a particular holster specifically for this phone that automatically locks the keypad AND the trackball.

Me personally.... I don't agree with carrying a phone directly in the pocket anyways. Especially ones with large screens. Lord knows how many busted/scratched screens I've seen the rest of my family go through.

[shardian]

1-2 times, phone's fault. 6-10 times, user's fault.

want a new phone? Go to ebay and get another. You can sell yours to fund another.

Me? I'm still trying to figure out how a guy trying to scrape his way thru law school can afford the luxury of a blackberry and a data service contract. I know I sure can't. 

[ark_ader]

Well my answer to all of this is to buy a proper case for the blackberry.

I have the XDA Orbit, and a Body Glove and I must have had that phone saved 100s of times from drops and falls.  It has a strong clear plastic front that reduces accidental key presses.  I have to take it out of the case to use the touch screen on the phone.

Cost $20.00 from Sams Club.

Its the best $20 I have spent.

[Hoopz]

Its the best $20 I have spent.

Never bought a box of condoms and a six pack of PBR when in college?   

[ChadTower]

Never bought a box of condoms and a six pack of PBR when in college?   

Not for $20 he didn't!

[ark_ader]

Its the best $20 I have spent.

Never bought a box of condoms and a six pack of PBR when in college?   

Never, just a bottle of Jack and my G/F.  And she always bought the Jack. 

I looked on the site after I posted and figured their Perl Jackets are not what I was referring to.  This one is the business.

[Cakemeister]

This reminds me of the commercial where a man's butt makes a phone call to his wife/gf and she gets him a new phone, with a sarcastic "Yay", then his butt hangs up on her. Funny commercial.

[shmokes]

The phone has a design flaw.  Continuing to use the phone doesn't make it user error.  I'm using the phone AS INTENDED.  Continuing to use the phone doesn't say anything except that I'm continuing to use a flawed product.  The cons don't outweigh the pros for me.  If somebody points out the stupidity of the iPhone's lack of cut-and-paste (finally being addressed in the upcoming 3.0, btw) do you say, "User error.  If you wanted cut and paste you'd just go out and buy a different phone."  How retarded is that?  The main difference here is that the bad design decision I'm talking about isn't just a missing feature, but an honest to god design flaw.  I'm using the phone in a perfectly reasonable way -- in a way it was intended intended by the manufacturer to be used, and on a regular basis the ---smurfing--- thing calls 911 without me intending it to.  How can you say with a straight face that there's nothing wrong with that?

The Pearl's ---smurfing--- raison d'etre is its pocketability.  Otherwise a person would just get a full-sized Blackberry with a bigger screen and a full-sized keyboard.  I don't want to put my Pearl on my belt.  I got the pearl vs. a full-sizer specifically to keep in my pocket.  I also don't want to put my phone in standby.  I've started doing that, but now I can't use it as a watch or check the screen to see whether I have any new text messages or voicemails without taking it out of standby.   

This is so funny.  Y'all are just digging your heels in for the sake of arguing.  Whether or not I could obviate the problem by changing my own behavior doesn't magically make it not a problem.  Surely you wouldn't say that a poorly designed roof with eves that begin to sag is not poorly designed because after one or two of your eves began sagging you didn't go around and prop poles underneath them to give them added support.  Maybe there's an inconvenient solution to your problem, but that doesn't mean the eves weren't poorly designed.  Shrug.

BTW, I don't have a data contract on my phone.  The only thing I miss out on is an extremely crappy internet experience and push email.  I still get Blackberry's excellent calendar and the Pearl's perfect formfactor, awesome Suretype, qwerty keypad. 

edit: typos

[ChadTower]

While you're all up on that horse, consider that the consequences of the design flaw outweigh your personal convenience.  Police have better things to do than chase down a guy whose hardon called 911 on a cell in his pocket.  It's not like it called your grandma. 

[CheffoJeffo]

Did you even bother to try the tip that I passed along ... or are you just feeling all vitriolic today ?

Mrs. Cheffo has a Pearl, doesn't use a holster and has never dialed 911 by mistake .. apparently sometimes she does listen to my advice and keeps it in a sleeve, AS INTENDED.

And, yeah, if you wanted cut and paste and bought an iPhone, I would definitely call it user error. If I want to play Major Havoc, but bought a Black Widow cabinet, THAT would be user error.

A better analogy might be if I bought a WG G08 and it caught on fire, then it would user error because I KNOW that it is going to catch fire.

Duh!

[shmokes]

Did you even bother to try the tip that I passed along ... or are you just feeling all vitriolic today ?

Would you be referring to this tip?

I also don't want to put my phone in standby.  I've started doing that, but now I can't use it as a watch or check the screen to see whether I have any new text messages or voicemails without taking it out of standby.   

Mrs. shmokes also has a pearl and she also has never dialed 911 by mistake.  Like Mrs. Cheffo, however, she keeps her phone in her purse, not in her pocket, so I don't see how her experience relates to the issue I'm talking about.

And I think your analogies don't really work very well.  Obviously buying an iPhone for cut and paste would be user error.  That's not what I said.  I said that it was simply missing a feature that it should have -- that it was poor design.  I made a point of distinguishing it from the Pearl which has, "an honest to god design flaw."  Your Major Havoc/Black Widow analogy suffers from the same problem.  Buying a Major Havoc cab to play Black Widow would be user error.  Obviously.  Buying a Blackberry Pearl to carry in your pocket is not user error.  It's made for just such a purpose.  In one case you are absurdly trying to use a product for something it was not intended to be used for.  In the other you are using the product in the way it is intended to work, in the way it should work, and it's doing bad things.

I actually don't understand the monitor analogy.  I guess that this monitor has a reputation for catching fire?  Even so, you may have made an unwise choice, but that's not user error.  A monitor that bursts into flames when it's being used properly obviously has a design defect.  Please don't argue otherwise.

edit: spelling

[Kevin Mullins]

It's not like we're discounting your frustration over the calling 911 by mistake ordeal, it's just that there are preventative measures you can personally take.

First off..... they made it easy to dial 911 for a reason.
Heck, why do you think it's only three digits to begin with?
And if some phone manufacturer can make it even easier then all the better....... in case of an emergency.

Ok, so you don't want to wear it on your belt...... you want it "pocketable".....

http://www.blackberrysource.com/store/catalog.asp?item=3493

[shmokes]

While you're all up on that horse, consider that the consequences of the design flaw outweigh your personal convenience.  Police have better things to do than chase down a guy whose hardon called 911 on a cell in his pocket.  It's not like it called your grandma. 

Noted.  While you're all up on your high horse consider that Blackberry has sold hundreds of thousands (millions?) of Blackberry Pearls.  Why don't you take a look at what a google search of "blackberry pearl emergency calls" turns up.  Now multiply the numbers you gleen there by about 10,000 to arrive at approximately the number of people with this issue who don't post about it on the internet.

So go ahead and wax self-righteous on me, but if your concern is wasted emergency resources perhaps your ire is a bit misdirected.  You're missing the forest for a tree.  I think what you mean to say is, "Yeah, Jesus, that's a major design flaw.  Shmokes is right; Blackberry should spend about five minutes to write a firmware update to correct this issue for thousands of people using this phone.  In the meantime, shmokes, you ought to take measures to stop contributing to the problem."  

To which I might reply, "Yeah, agreed, as I stated earlier, I've started putting the stupid thing in standby mode.  How obnoxious, huh?"

[CCM]

I don't think the issue is whether the phone has a design flaw or not, the issue is your blatant disregard for wasting the time and resources of emergency services.

Surely you wouldn't say that a poorly designed roof with eves that begin to sag is not poorly designed because after one or two of your eves began sagging you didn't go around and prop poles underneath them to give them added support.  Maybe there's an inconvenient solution to your problem, but that doesn't mean the eves weren't poorly designed.  Shrug.

There's your problem right there... your house has eves instead of eaves!  How the hell is your house even standing..  

[CheffoJeffo]

shmokes, shmokes, shmokes ...

I don't think that anybody is arguing that there isn't a design flaw with the phone. If it could be really fixed with an OS upgrade, then it likely would have been.

The manufacturer's defect explains perhaps the first 3 or so times (for me, it would have been 1) that you have dialed 911 by mistake.

Every time after that, however, is pretty much due to you being a dumbass and/or having no regard for the fact that you *are* dialing 911 and consuming services best used for emergencies.

Perhaps, because the issue can be traced to a poor design, you feel that absolves you of responsibility. The fact that it inconveniences you to either use a sleeve (I never said that Mrs. Cheffo keeps her phone in her purse, did I?) or to put the phone in standby does not mean, to my mind, that you should willfully continue to do things that you *know* will have a particular outcome.

At what point in time does shmokes assume responsibility for what shmokes *knows* is going to happen when shmokes does certain things ?

To put it in terms that a lawyer might relate better to ... coffee is hot and cars move -- if you spill coffee on yourself while driving maybe you shouldn't be so quick to just blame McDonald's.

 

We can deal with the analogies another time ... they were a response to your "iPhone/how retarded is that" analogy ... and just about as relevant!

[ChadTower]

To which I might reply, "Yeah, agreed, as I stated earlier, I've started putting the stupid thing in standby mode.  How obnoxious, huh?"

I would have if you intended to do such a thing.  You lost credibility on that point when you said it has happened as many as ten times. 

Fool me once, shame on you... fool me twice, shame on me... fool me ten times and we start calling you a Shmoking Bush.

[shmokes]

It's not like we're discounting your frustration . . .

Um . . . are we reading the same thread?

I agree that there are measures that I can take.  They are all bad.  I don't want to keep my phone in a sleeve.  It's inconvenient.   It's not how I want to use the phone.  Not to mention that I shouldn't have to spend extra money to fix a design flaw.  

While I understand why it's easy to call 911, it can obviously be too easy.  We've been discussing a particular example of too easy.  I'm sure you can imagine an infinite number of other ways 911 dialing could be made too easy.  

[ChadTower]

It's not like we're discounting your frustration over the calling 911 by mistake ordeal

Erm, yes we are.  First time, sympathy, second time, well you should have learned your lesson... tenth time, we're into pending legislation making careless 911 calls a civil offense carrying a three digit fine.  Plus we taunt you.  A lot.

[CCM]

It's not like we're discounting your frustration . . .

Um . . . are we reading the same thread?

I agree that there are measures that I can take.  They are all bad.  I don't want to keep my phone in a sleeve.  It's inconvenient.   It's not how I want to use the phone.  Not to mention that I shouldn't have to spend extra money to fix a design flaw.  

While I understand why it's easy to call 911, it can obviously be too easy.  We've been discussing a particular example of too easy.  I'm sure you can imagine an infinite number of other ways 911 dialing could be made too easy.  

So you flat-out don't care about the multiple calls you've made to 911?  You could care less about the wasted time and resources?   Is that what you are saying?

[HaRuMaN]

Phones don't kill people, people kill people...

Wait, what was this all about? 

[shmokes]

I would have if you intended to do such a thing.  You lost credibility on that point when you said it has happened as many as ten times. 

Yeah . . . it's easy to sit in your armchair and call shots, but take reality into consideration for a second.  A #1, I said 6-10 times over a 2 year period.  That means at the very most we're talking about something that has happened 5 times in a year, but maybe it's only happened 3 times in a year.  Also consider that these things don't happen in a vacuum.  I've never been sitting down at a computer when it happens.  It calls when I'm out and about doing things.  911 calls back, but there's not a lot I can do.  I apologize but life continues happening.  I'm not still thinking about it hours later when I get home.  If I said that this was happening 52 times a year, yeah, it's happening once a week.  It's gonna get addressed.  But we're talking about something that rarely affects me.  It happens and then other ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- happens and I forget about it for months at a time until it happens again.  Gimme a break.  Get real.

[CheffoJeffo]

Plus we taunt you.  A lot.

 

[shmokes]

So you flat-out don't care about the multiple calls you've made to 911?  You could care less about the wasted time and resources?   Is that what you are saying?

Well . . . considering that I now put my phone in standby mode, rather than locking the keys, I guess my answer to your question should be obvious.  And yeah, standby sucks, but is a helluva lot better than using a sleeve or a holster, I think your characterization is a little unfair.

[CCM]

 



[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6cxNR9ML8k&feature=related[/youtube]

[ChadTower]

Rationalization is funny like that, isn't it?  

Did he really just say rarely affects me?

Basically it took the 911 dispatcher noticing that your number is tied to 9 false calls and send a unit to your family for you to care about your waste of resources.  You do realize you're flagged as a possible problem now, right, seeing as how someone has been calling 911 from your phone and you keep telling them it's nothing?

Plus I bet they call you a toolbag down at the station.  A really big sweaty one.

[shmokes]

pending legislation making careless 911 calls a civil offense carrying a three digit fine.  Plus we taunt you.  A lot.

That's the spirit!  Take care of the problem, one careless Blackberry user at a time.  We'll get those 911 resources back yet!  

[ChadTower]

pending legislation making careless 911 calls a civil offense carrying a three digit fine.  Plus we taunt you.  A lot.

That's the spirit!  Take care of the problem, one careless Blackberry user at a time.  We'll get those 911 resources back yet!  

Either that or a remote self destruct code known to the 911 operator.  "oh, this is a false call?  Sir, please put the phone down on the ground.  Now back off 5 steps.  Thank you."  <boom>

"911, what's your emergency?  Blew his leg off?  Wait, the process is ten steps?!"

[shmokes]

Did he really just say rarely affects me?

It affects me for about twenty seconds a pop three to five times per year.  So that's a grand total of 60 to 100 seconds of my life per year that is affected by this.  Perhaps you can suggest a more appropriate adverb.  Infrequently?  Hardly ever?  Doesn't often?  Seldom?  Almost never?  Do any of these work for you?

[ChadTower]

But it would have to affect him 46 more times a year for him to do anything about it, apparently.

Is there anyone fairly local to him?  I'm thinking you could probably mess with him 30-35 times a year before he did anything about it.   

[saint]

You are all silly buggers.

[CheffoJeffo]

Is there anyone fairly local to him? 

tommy ?

Too bad we already broke him.

[shmokes]

But it would have to affect him 46 more times a year for him to do anything about it, apparently.

Is there anyone fairly local to him?  I'm thinking you could probably mess with him 30-35 times a year before he did anything about it.   

We've already pretty clearly established that my threshold is 6-10 times in a two year period. 

[ChadTower]

We've already pretty clearly established that my threshold is 6-10 times in a two year period. 

That's just for mild inconvenience.  We don't know what it is for something like getting hit with a bill from the Canadian Revenue Agency.

[shmokes]

Is there anyone fairly local to him? 

tommy ?

Too bad we already broke him.

Tommy would would be a nonstarter even before he was broken.  I once asked about buying glass from him (cos I'm local) and he refused to sell to me.  For real.    

[ChadTower]

Looks like shmokes picked the wrong day to quit giving us reason to taunt him a second time.

[shmokes]

That's just for mild inconvenience.  We don't know what it is for something like getting hit with a bill from the Canadian Revenue Agency.

---smurfing--- foreigners.  Learn English.  

[ChadTower]

That's just for mild inconvenience.  We don't know what it is for something like getting hit with a bill from the Canadian Revenue Agency.

---smurfing--- foreigners.  Learn English.  

Irony:  English is an official language of Canada... but not of the US.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLfm6XKtRHI[/youtube]

[CheffoJeffo]

But it would have to affect him 46 more times a year for him to do anything about it, apparently.

Is there anyone fairly local to him?  I'm thinking you could probably mess with him 30-35 times a year before he did anything about it.   

We've already pretty clearly established that my threshold is 6-10 times in a two year period. 

Silly lawyers and their lack of specificity ... the only things that we have established is that 6-10 times in a two year period is below your threshold, 52 times in a year would be once a week (who says that lawyers don't know their maths?) and that would be above your threshold.

[CheffoJeffo]

That's just for mild inconvenience.  We don't know what it is for something like getting hit with a bill from the Canadian Revenue Agency.

---smurfing--- foreigners.  Learn English.  

Take off, you hoser !

Or, since you live in Miami, "Quítese, que Hoser!"

[shmokes]

Uh uh uh . . . we must conclude that it is my threshold because after that many times I gave in and addressed the issue (and ranted about it on the internets).  You could probably make a reasonably persuasive argument, though, that my threshold was met artificially because of the introduction of a new variable (sending a cop to my house).  But I wasn't even home, so I was only indirectly affected by this.  And anyway, that would be pure speculation.  

[shmokes]

Or, since you live in Miami, "Quítese, que Hoser!"

For real.  I'm totally the foreigner here.  I speak next to no Spanish.

[ChadTower]

It's all speculative - we have no proof that you did indeed take corrective steps.  We do not even know for sure that you actually made these phone calls but that we're willing to accept on faith because it gives us something to laugh at on an otherwise slow afternoon.

I say we approach this scientifically.  Someone egg his car every other wednesday until he decides to do something about it.  Then we have a reasonable estimate of what his real threshhold may be.  That theory can then be tested by several others independently until we have a consensus as to just how much ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- shmokes will take before he either a) takes corrective action or b) rants about it on the intarwebs without corrective action and blames the damage to his car's paintjob on negligent chickens.

[shmokes]

But how to control for the possibility that I may have multiple thresholds depending on the degree of negative stimuli applied?

[ChadTower]

But how to control for the possibility that I may have multiple thresholds depending on the degree of negative stimuli applied?

We'll call that the Freeway Overpass Watermelon To The Windshield factor or your FOWToW for short.

[shmokes]

This from the guy who's peeing his pants about the minute to a minute and a half of 911 time I stole from society  last year.   

[CheffoJeffo]

This from the guy who's peeing his pants about the minute to a minute and a half of 911 time I stole from society  last year.   

But is was sent to the guy who's peeing his pants about the minute to a minute and a half that RIM stole from him last year. 

[shmokes]

No no . . . you misunderstand.  I was peeing my pants about the 911 time I stole from society.  I was all broken up about it.  For real.   

[Ginsu Victim]

No one is posting in the other boards because we're all just flies drawn to this

[shmokes]

I've called 911 maybe 6 times my entire life, 6 times a year seems kind of excessive.  

Oh, so now I'm up to 12 times in a two year period.  This just keeps getting better.   

[Ginsu Victim]

Just don't have a wank with it in your pocket. Not the best time to have the cops bust down the door.

[Zakk]

I've had a blackberry for ages.  I've never phoned 911 with it, and I drink heavily and fall down a lot. I've even fallen in the pool with this last one *twice* and I have yet to call 911 (either accidentally or because of a drunken fall in the pool).

I'm thinking that if someone was really injured, or in fast, desperate need of the police, fire or ambulance, it would be pretty ignorant to think that they would have to push a series of sequential keypresses, because some guy likes to keep his phone nuzzled up against his penis.

Shmokes, go buy another phone.  Problem solved for everyone.

[HaRuMaN]

That Zakk is just mean!

[shmokes]

I've had a blackberry for ages.  I've never phoned 911 with it, and I drink heavily and fall down a lot. I've even fallen in the pool with this last one *twice* and I have yet to call 911 (either accidentally or because of a drunken fall in the pool).

I'm thinking that if someone was really injured, or in fast, desperate need of the police, fire or ambulance, it would be pretty ignorant to think that they would have to push a series of sequential keypresses, because some guy likes to keep his phone nuzzled up against his penis.

Shmokes, go buy another phone.  Problem solved for everyone.

Yeah . . . pressing a sequence of numbers to get 911 is just such a ridiculous and unreasonable thing to suggest.  Who would ever come up with the idea of having to press a sequence of numbers to get 911?  What was I thinking?  So stupid.  Oh, wait . . .

[Zakk]

I've had a blackberry for ages.  I've never phoned 911 with it, and I drink heavily and fall down a lot. I've even fallen in the pool with this last one *twice* and I have yet to call 911 (either accidentally or because of a drunken fall in the pool).

I'm thinking that if someone was really injured, or in fast, desperate need of the police, fire or ambulance, it would be pretty ignorant to think that they would have to push a series of sequential keypresses, because some guy likes to keep his phone nuzzled up against his penis.

Shmokes, go buy another phone.  Problem solved for everyone.

Yeah . . . pressing a sequence of numbers to get 911 is just such a ridiculous and unreasonable thing to suggest.  Who would ever come up with the idea of having to press a sequence of numbers to get 911?  What was I thinking?  So stupid.  Oh, wait . . .

I just for the hell of it tried to make an emergency call.  You have to push the blackberry nipple, then scroll down one slot, not two, then push the nipple again, then scroll up to YES (default is no), then push the nipple again.  I didn't push it as I assume that will make a call.  You make it out like if you brush up against it, it dials 911.   That's still a sequence to get to an emergency call. 

[ahofle]

I just for the hell of it tried to make an emergency call.  You have to push the blackberry nipple, then scroll down one slot, not two, then push the nipple again, then scroll up to YES (default is no), then push the nipple again.  I didn't push it as I assume that will make a call.  You make it out like if you brush up against it, it dials 911.   That's still a sequence to get to an emergency call. 

LOL I hate to be the only one to agree with Shmokes here, but that sounds like a really pointless 'feature'.  Wouldn't it be easier to simply unlock the phone then dial 911 without having to scroll around several menus?  Also, the whole point of locking the phone is to prevent inadvertent pocket calls.  Sounds like they have failed to accomplish that.

[ark_ader]

I've had a blackberry for ages.  I've never phoned 911 with it, and I drink heavily and fall down a lot. I've even fallen in the pool with this last one *twice* and I have yet to call 911 (either accidentally or because of a drunken fall in the pool).

I'm thinking that if someone was really injured, or in fast, desperate need of the police, fire or ambulance, it would be pretty ignorant to think that they would have to push a series of sequential keypresses, because some guy likes to keep his phone nuzzled up against his penis.

Shmokes, go buy another phone.  Problem solved for everyone.

Yeah . . . pressing a sequence of numbers to get 911 is just such a ridiculous and unreasonable thing to suggest.  Who would ever come up with the idea of having to press a sequence of numbers to get 911?  What was I thinking?  So stupid.  Oh, wait . . .

....you could buy a nice jacket for your phone, and wear it in your pocket as you please, as it would not activate when you see blonde walk by.  The next bogus call could land you in hot water with the cops.   

I have sold and supported 1000s of Blackberry Pearls, so here is one option you could look at to resolve your random and enlarging issue:

To avoid calling 911 from your pocket, don’t use the key lock feature. Instead use the standby mode by holding the mute button on top of the phone. This mode will put your phone to sleep and lock all keys and the track ball. It will save your battery life and you will still receive phone calls and message notifications. To bring your phone out of standby mode, simply press the mute button.

[Zakk]

I've had a blackberry for ages.  I've never phoned 911 with it, and I drink heavily and fall down a lot. I've even fallen in the pool with this last one *twice* and I have yet to call 911 (either accidentally or because of a drunken fall in the pool).

I'm thinking that if someone was really injured, or in fast, desperate need of the police, fire or ambulance, it would be pretty ignorant to think that they would have to push a series of sequential keypresses, because some guy likes to keep his phone nuzzled up against his penis.

Shmokes, go buy another phone.  Problem solved for everyone.

Yeah . . . pressing a sequence of numbers to get 911 is just such a ridiculous and unreasonable thing to suggest.  Who would ever come up with the idea of having to press a sequence of numbers to get 911?  What was I thinking?  So stupid.  Oh, wait . . .

....you could buy a nice jacket for your phone, and wear it in your pocket as you please, as it would not activate when you see blonde walk by.  The next bogus call could land you in hot water with the cops.   

I have sold and supported 1000s of Blackberry Pearls, so here is one option you could look at to resolve your random and enlarging issue:

To avoid calling 911 from your pocket, don’t use the key lock feature. Instead use the standby mode by holding the mute button on top of the phone. This mode will put your phone to sleep and lock all keys and the track ball. It will save your battery life and you will still receive phone calls and message notifications. To bring your phone out of standby mode, simply press the mute button.

That's actually a pretty cool tip! 

[shmokes]

I just for the hell of it tried to make an emergency call.  You have to push the blackberry nipple, then scroll down one slot, not two, then push the nipple again, then scroll up to YES (default is no), then push the nipple again.  I didn't push it as I assume that will make a call.  You make it out like if you brush up against it, it dials 911.   That's still a sequence to get to an emergency call. 

I don't make it sound like anything other than what it is:  a phone that calls 911 (and only 911) from my pocket approximately 3-5 times per year.  Considering the fact that I carry my phone in my pocket all day every day that's not a lot of times.  But it's still happening a lot more often than it should (read: zero).

By the way, the standby thing has been mentioned a few times in this thread.  I've already starting doing it.

[ChadTower]

Can't he just keep his junk in standby?  Seems like that's better overall for society.

[Ginsu Victim]

[ChadTower]

Is it a subtle message that he's beating the horse's junk?

[boykster]

This thread is funny 

[Barry Barcrest]

Yeah . . . pressing a sequence of numbers to get 911 is just such a ridiculous and unreasonable thing to suggest.  Who would ever come up with the idea of having to press a sequence of numbers to get 911?  What was I thinking?  So stupid.  Oh, wait . . .

It is supposed to be a shortcut to dialing 911 for faster access... Yeah lets have the shortcut 911.

[Ed_McCarron]

You have to push the blackberry nipple, then scroll down one slot, not two, then push the nipple again, then scroll up to YES (default is no), then push the nipple again.  I didn't push it as I assume that will make a call.  You make it out like if you brush up against it, it dials 911.   That's still a sequence to get to an emergency call. 

His ass is well trained?

[ChadTower]

So he's dialing his own nipple with his junk?  Can someone get pics of that for Mr C?

[J_K_M_A_N]

I just for the hell of it tried to make an emergency call.  You have to push the blackberry nipple, then scroll down one slot, not two, then push the nipple again, then scroll up to YES (default is no), then push the nipple again.  I didn't push it as I assume that will make a call.  You make it out like if you brush up against it, it dials 911.   That's still a sequence to get to an emergency call. 

LOL I hate to be the only one to agree with Shmokes here, but that sounds like a really pointless 'feature'.  Wouldn't it be easier to simply unlock the phone then dial 911 without having to scroll around several menus?  Also, the whole point of locking the phone is to prevent inadvertent pocket calls.  Sounds like they have failed to accomplish that.

I have to agree. I didn't read it as he had a problem. The phone should not do that when the keys are locked IMO. It would piss me off also.

J_K_M_A_N

[ChadTower]

So how many times would you call 911 before modifying how you carry it?

No one argued that it's a good design.  Bad design doesn't remove accountability for usage.

[mountain]

I don't make it sound like anything other than what it is:  a phone that calls 911 (and only 911) from my pocket approximately 3-5 times per year.  Considering the fact that I carry my phone in my pocket all day every day that's not a lot of times.  But it's still happening a lot more often than it should (read: zero).

 

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
                                                                                                             -Einstein

[Ed_McCarron]

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
                                                                                                             -Einstein

Meh, Einstein wasn't that smart.  You remember that I before E thing you learned in school?  He got it wrong in his own name.  Twice.

[shmokes]

So how many times would you call 911 before modifying how you carry it?

No one argued that it's a good design.  Bad design doesn't remove accountability for usage.

Chad, what you don't seem to get is that y'all are missing the point.  You act like the issue is just resolved if I change my behavior, but that's not the case.  I would have the exact same problem that I have now even if I had holstered the phone after the first or second time it called 911.  Here is my issue:

If I carry my Blackberry Pearl in my pocket without a sleeve it will periodically call 911 even though the keys are locked.

Putting the phone in a holster does not make the above statement any less true.  Putting the phone in standby mode doesn't make it less true.  Buying a different phone doesn't make the statement any less true.  Wrapping it in a sleeve before putting it in my pocket doesn't make it less true.

I shouldn't have to take any of those steps.  I shouldn't have to take them after the 1st or 2nd time the phone calls 911.  I shouldn't have to take them after the 6th or 10th time the phone calls 911.  They should not be necessary.  The fact that I have to take one of those steps at all is what irritates me.  And it doesn't stop irritating me just because the phone is no longer dialing 911 because in order to get it to stop I had to stop using my phone in a way that I should be able to use it.  The whole purpose of a key lock feature is to keep a phone from doing what my phone is doing.

[ChadTower]

Chad, what you don't seem to get is that y'all are missing the point.  You act like the issue is just resolved if I change my behavior, but that's not the case.  I would have the exact same problem that I have now even if I had holstered the phone after the first or second time it called 911.  Here is my issue:

Your most common failure is that you assume anyone who fundamentally disagrees with you only does so out of lack of comprehension of your position.  If they'd only just get it they'd see the error of their opinion and recognize the infallacy of the shmokes!

Dude, I get your point, I just think it's a crock of nonaccountable ---That which is odiferous and causeth plants to grow---.  Be a man and accept responsibility.  Any incident after the first or maybe even second are all your fault - I don't care if the phone dials 911 when the battery runs low.  You know it, you didn't alter your behaviour, you are accountable.

[CheffoJeffo]

OK, I'll agree with shmokes -- the design is stupid. I don't see where anybody said anything different.

BUT what is far more stupid is continuing to do the same thing again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again (did I get the count right ?) knowing in advance that it will happen, but figuring that since the design is stupid that somehow that makes it all OK.

EDIT: Which makes the point that I was getting at with respect to the G08 -- it is a flawed design that is prone to overheating and possibly igniting. If I put one in a cabinet, without adding a suitable cooling mechanism, knowing full well that it could catch fire, then I would have to be an idiot to lay the blame for such a fire solely at the feet of the manufacturer. It's inconvenient for me to have to add a fan. I shouldn't have to add a fan. I don't want to add a fan. But, if I quit whining, accept some responsibility and behave intelligently, then I can manage to get by without burning the damned house down.

[ark_ader]

OK, I'll agree with shmokes -- the design is stupid. I don't see where anybody said anything different.

BUT what is far more stupid is continuing to do the same thing again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again (did I get the count right ?) knowing in advance that it will happen, but figuring that since the design is stupid that somehow that makes it all OK.

EDIT: Which makes the point that I was getting at with respect to the G08 -- it is a flawed design that is prone to overheating and possibly igniting. If I put one in a cabinet, without adding a suitable cooling mechanism, knowing full well that it could catch fire, then I would have to be an idiot to lay the blame for such a fire solely at the feet of Wells Gardner. It's inconvenient for me to have to add a fan. I shouldn't have to add a fan. I don't want to add a fan. But, if I quit whining, accept some responsibility and behave intelligently, then I can manage to get by without burning the damned house down.

What Cheffo said above is quite correct.  Now I want you, Shmokes, to contact your local law enforcement and apologize to them, buy some tickets to the policeman's ball, and be a good citizen.   

I'm betting Shmoke's next thread will be about a Poltergeist in his house calling 911 from his Emerson clock radio phone.....

[Kevin Mullins]

If I carry my Blackberry Pearl in my pocket without a sleeve it will periodically call 911 even though the keys are locked.

Not to say their particular design by using the trackball as a shortcut couldn't be better and be made to less likely randomly call 911 ........ personally I don't see why they didn't just link it to the keys (i.e 9-1-1) Just as many steps in order to dial it.

And the "accidental phone calls" statement could be misconstruded all to hell I'm sure......but what it boils down to is that 911 has to remain accessible at ALL times.

In the case of the Blackberry pearl - if the keypad is locked....what's left?
Um, the trackball. (the same thing you would have to use to unlock the keypad)

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations stipulate that all cellular phones must receive access to the service provider's network, regardless of whether or not the phone is active or has a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) or Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) card.

The key requirement is that the phone shall interpret phone calls made to 112 or 911 as emergency calls and employ the emergency call teleservice for phone call setup in all cases, including but not necessarily limited to the following cases:

    * When a SIM/USIM is not present
    * When a SIM/USIM is present but neither 112 nor 911 are contained in the emergency numbers list stored on the SIM/USIM
    * When a SIM/USIM is present and 112 and/or 911 are contained in the emergency numbers list stored on the SIM/USIM
    * When a SIM/USIM is present with CHV1, a digital signing security protocol, enabled and CHV1 is yet to be verified during the current session
    * When a SIM/USIM is present with CHV1 blocked
    * When a SIM/USIM is present and the Fixed Dialing Numbers (FDN) service is enabled, irrespective of whether 112 and/or 911 are included in the Fixed Dialing Number list
    * When the keypad is “locked” to prevent accidental phone calls
    * When in a normal service state or limited service state

All phone calls to an emergency number shall initiate an emergency setup message.

Thus, we must allow the ability to dial emergency numbers from a locked BlackBerry smartphone. While this does not mean that we must allow emergency dialing from a locked screen by actually typing an emergency number (911, 999, 000, 119, 112, etc...), this ability is implemented in BlackBerry smartphones as per individual service provider requirements.

[Zakk]

He must be getting along quite well at lawyers school.  "Why should I have to stop dropping hot coffee into my lap, it shouldn't be so hot!"  Why should I have to stop driving into trees, the airbag doesn't have to come out so hard!"  "Why should I have to learn to breathe underwater, water should just have air in it!" "Why should I have to avoid wearing nothing but pink thongs to work, you should just look away!"

[shmokes]

In the case of the Blackberry pearl - if the keypad is locked....what's left?
Um, the trackball. (the same thing you would have to use to unlock the keypad)

The keypad cannot be unlocked with the trackball.  The only way to unlock the keypad is with a specific series of keypresses. 

[leapinlew]

It's a smart phone. Maybe it's calling 911 because your not smart enough to own it.

[shmokes]

BUT what is far more stupid is continuing to do the same thing again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again (did I get the count right ?) knowing in advance that it will happen

That's absurd.  EVERYBODY does this.  You go outside without an umbrella again and again and again and again knowing in advance that once in a while you will sometimes be caught in an unexpected rainstorm.  You could obviate the problem, of course, by carrying an umbrella everywhere you go at all times.  But you don't want to carry an umbrella everywhere you go.  It's inconvenient.  So you don't do it.  But the more often it rains, the more likely you are to break down and start carrying an umbrella.    

Nobody goes around taking preventative measures for every possible bad thing that could happen as soon as he learns of the possibility.  It depends entirely on how bad the thing is and how likely it is to occur.  For example, I do take an umbrella just about everywhere I go.  I keep one in my school bag.  I keep one in my car.

[shmokes]

. . . your not smart

Hmm . . . something about that insult makes it sting less than it should.  What could it be . . . ?   

[shmokes]

Any incident after the first or maybe even second are all your fault - I don't care if the phone dials 911 when the battery runs low.  You know it, you didn't alter your behaviour, you are accountable.

But you are still missing the point.  I don't care at all about the 911 time that I personally have wasted.  The amount of emergency service time I've wasted is measured in seconds, not minutes.  It's completely negligible and you're just being a drama queen.  When you look at the wasted resources cumulatively, yeah, it's substantial.  But that's a problem that only Blackberry's can fix, and it's a problem that they should fix, because it is their mistake.

And there is absolutely nothing unreasonable about my irritation that a product that I purchased doesn't work the way it should.  And frankly, there's nothing unreasonable about my failure to apply highest priority to correcting a problem that is fairly minuscule.  I got to it eventually.  You're acting like the building was on fire and I sat around watching it burn instead of trying to escape when I had the chance.  Again, that's just the drama queen in you.

[missioncontrol]

I've only called 911 twice in my life, once when I witnessed an horrific accident, the other time when my house was on fire.

[CheffoJeffo]

BUT what is far more stupid is continuing to do the same thing again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again (did I get the count right ?) knowing in advance that it will happen

That's absurd.  EVERYBODY does this.  You go outside without an umbrella again and again and again and again knowing in advance that once in a while you will sometimes be caught in an unexpected rainstorm.  You could obviate the problem, of course, by carrying an umbrella everywhere you go at all times.  But you don't want to carry an umbrella everywhere you go.  It's inconvenient.  So you don't do it.  But the more often it rains, the more likely you are to break down and start carrying an umbrella.    

Nobody goes around taking preventative measures for every possible bad thing that could happen as soon as he learns of the possibility.  It depends entirely on how bad the thing is and how likely it is to occur.  For example, I do take an umbrella just about everywhere I go.  I keep one in my school bag.  I keep one in my car.

What is absurd is you trying to treat the statement in the abstract, despite the fact that you know full well it refers to specifics.

Your response reveals the crux of the issue that you are having with folks here -- you don't see your repeated misdialings of 911 as an issue. I see miscalling 911 as something bad while you either don't care or are happy to keep doing it because you can blame RIM.

If your phone was dialing your Mom's number, then most folks here would have been in total agreement with you. But that's not what is happening and you couldn't be bothered to take simple steps to prevent it.

It is also very revealing that you carry an umbrella everywhere so that *you* don't get wet, but that you can't be bothered to take simple precautions to prevent your continuing misuse of emergency services.

Maybe we should just take up a collection to get you a new phone -- that way you aren't inconvenienced and *we* can be the ones to take responsibility instead of you.

[Ed_McCarron]

Nobody goes around taking preventative measures for every possible bad thing that could happen as soon as he learns of the possibility.  

Wha?  You don't wear a condom all day just in case you get the chance to have sex?

[Zakk]

I remember the first time I was chumming for sharks off the coast of Ohope.  The guy kept saying "you should do that from inside the boat".  Well wasn't he right!  I just wish I'd listened, because the 10th time I did it, I lost a leg to a great white named blinky.  Man, did I feel stupid that day!

[Ed_McCarron]

The amount of emergency service time I've wasted is measured in seconds, not minutes.

Fast cop, if he made it to your neighbors house, investigated, and did the paperwork required in seconds.

[CheffoJeffo]

But you are still missing the point.  I don't care at all about the 911 time that I personally have wasted.  The amount of emergency service time I've wasted is measured in seconds, not minutes.  It's completely negligible and you're just being a drama queen.  When you look at the wasted resources cumulatively, yeah, it's substantial.  But that's a problem that only Blackberry's can fix, and it's a problem that they should fix, because it is their mistake.

And there is absolutely nothing unreasonable about my irritation that a product that I purchased doesn't work the way it should.  And frankly, there's nothing unreasonable about my failure to apply highest priority to correcting a problem that is fairly minuscule.  I got to it eventually.  You're acting like the building was on fire and I sat around watching it burn instead of trying to escape when I had the chance.  Again, that's just the drama queen in you.

Drama Queen ?

Who is the one crying like a child about their bloody cellphone and how inconvenient it is, but that they shouldn't have to buy another one or worry about anything ?

Pot. Kettle. Black.

PS -- one day you really need to spend some time working with first responders as they waste time chasing around other losers who can't make their phones work -- maybe then you will understand what I'm talking about.

[shardian]

This thread hurts my brain...

[leapinlew]

Hmm . . . something about that insult makes it sting less than it should.  What could it be . . . ?   

And yet here I am... someone who can work his phone. Funny how life works.

[saint]

[HaRuMaN]

What he said

[Zakk]

See, saint is annoyed that the guy can't see that calling emergency services for no reason is wrong too!

[HaRuMaN]

Personally, I think someone in this thread is jumping at the chance to pass on the idiot trophy he won when he got stumped laying wood in a truck.

 

[Ed_McCarron]

Personally, I think someone in this thread is jumping at the chance to pass on the idiot trophy he won when he got stumped laying wood in a truck.

Coulda been worse.  You could have said "Getting wood in a truck"

I hope you have a macro for that.

[ChadTower]

That's because I usually lay wood in the back seat!  The truck bed is too knobby.

[ark_ader]

Saint I'm already there.  I could quote you all day today.   

I think we have a solution for Mr Shmokes and his Pearl issue:

[CCM]

or maybe this is the answer:


[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNdw4CfbwQg[/youtube]

[shmokes]

Who is the one crying like a child

In this thread?  Shrug.  Not me.  I did complain about a problem that a simple google search shows is shared by hundreds, maybe thousands of other people, though.  Is that what you're talking about?  Cos I'm not crying.  I hardly even care about it.  Remember . . . I let it happen 6-10 times before even doing ANYTHING!!!   

[shmokes]

It is also very revealing that you carry an umbrella everywhere so that *you* don't get wet, but that you can't be bothered to take simple precautions to prevent your continuing misuse of emergency services.

Actually I just live in Miami.  It's tropical.  Sunny one minute, pouring rain the next, clear skies and sunny fifteen minutes later, pouring rain five minutes after that.  I moved here from the desert.  I didn't carry an umbrella in the desert.  The umbrella is a higher priority now because it rains so frequently here.  Similarly my phone was a lower priority because the problem occurred so infrequently.  It's rarely on my mind, last couple days excluded, LOL.

BTW, any particular reason you're taking this so personally?   I'm pretty sure you've decided you hate me over this.  That's unhealthy.  Have a beer. 

[CheffoJeffo]

Nah, I don't hate you ... I was a little punchy yesterday and your lack of respect for the folks in emergency services is one of those things that really sets me off.

[ChadTower]

I love how getting wet from an act of nature is comparable to calling emergency services on the phone.   

[Zakk]

  I moved here from the desert.  I didn't carry an umbrella in the desert. 

Even though I've decided that you are actually an ignorant, self important jackass because of this thread, I have to admit that bit there is quite funny. 

[ark_ader]

  I moved here from the desert.  I didn't carry an umbrella in the desert. 

Even though I've decided that you are actually an ignorant, self important jackass because of this thread, I have to admit that bit there is quite funny. 

I used to live in Las Vegas - An Umbrella is quite important, especially if you leave your hat in the car in the summer.  Those mini fold-up ones can save your life.

Umbrella = odd looks and stares, especially walking down the Strip.

Sun Stroke = Death or expensive medical bills.  Laughs from your friends and co-workers.

[Zakk]

  I moved here from the desert.  I didn't carry an umbrella in the desert. 

Even though I've decided that you are actually an ignorant, self important jackass because of this thread, I have to admit that bit there is quite funny. 

I used to live in Las Vegas - An Umbrella is quite important, especially if you leave your hat in the car in the summer.  Those mini fold-up ones can save your life.

Umbrella = odd looks and stares, especially walking down the Strip.

Sun Stroke = Death or expensive medical bills.  Laughs from your friends and co-workers.

I've heard that you can burn your head so bad that your brains leak out in a yellow ooze and put you in the hospital for a week.  THANK GOD I'VE NEVER ACCIDENTALLY SEEN A PICTURE OF THAT!!!!

[shmokes]

I love how getting wet from an act of nature is comparable to calling emergency services on the phone.   

Who said it was comparable.  I'm trying to say they're NOT comparable.  Hence I addressed the one and ignored the other.   

[shmokes]

I used to live in Las Vegas . . .

I was in Southern Utah (Cedar City), about 2 1/2 hours away from Vegas.  The desert I lived in isn't nearly as bad as the desert you lived in.  We topped out at about 105 degrees in the summer.  I worked in St. George, which came closer to Vegas, though.  Unacceptably hot.  And dry.

[ChadTower]

jim's getting desperate.  Every time he trots that out it gets less and less worthwhile to him.   

[Ed_McCarron]

Sheesh.  Even I gave up on the loading wood jokes.