FCC: All Mobile Phones Will Require GPS Radios Starting in 2018

• Quentyn Kennemer
• 13 years ago

The FCC has recently mandated that all manufacturers and mobile phone providers must provide GPS radios inside all of their phones – smartphones and feature phones alike – starting in 2018. The move will help North America move toward the e911 future that we could all use.

We imagine there are many instances where an emergency call needs to be placed but the caller is too hysterical or doesn’t have enough time to get the address out. Using GPS, this will help the dispatcher find your location easier.

This has been implemented in many police districts around the country (and world) but the FCC wants this to become mandatory. We can’t say we’re opposed. This may not mean much for us smartphone users, but you never know when an OEM might produce an Android phone without GPS. Just a heads up for you all. [via TechCrunch]