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To prevent this from happening again. To force their hand to ensure that their incentive structure changes to test and verify emergency calls _first_ regardless

by np- 5y ago

To prevent this from happening again. To force their hand to ensure that their incentive structure changes to test and verify emergency calls _first_ regardless of how long it takes even if it slows revenue generation before releasing their products to production. To hold them accountable to society for brazenly ignoring one of our major rules while still selling products pulling in a ton of cash. Lots of reasons to raise an official complaint. So they don’t just get to walk away with an “oops my bad”, much like many of us wouldn’t be able to if we messed up big time. It’s not like this is some random Joe shop that missed a small feature. This is Google and Microsoft, two of the biggest tech companies out there, making billions while not even caring to follow society’s rules (move fast and break things right? All in the name of scaled super fast profit)

nikanj 5y ago
So every app vendor now needs to make a 911 call as part of their CI process? I don't think 911 call centers are very happy about this.
- np- 5y ago
  Every app vendor who sells a phone product in the US? Uh, yes? It’s the law. 911 Call centers literally make testing available for this. And all you really need to test is that you’re making the outbound call properly without shit hitting the fan. What’s the alternative? Just have 911 calls fail every once in a while since everybody is too busy with their feature work to look into it?
  - nikanj 5y ago
    Ok, how do I test-dial 911 from Android Studio?
    - dsr_ 5y ago
      How do you test anything in Android Studio? Do it that way. (googling says: https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/connectivity/telecom/selfManaged https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/connectivity/tele... and hook up a test device )
    - deleted 5y ago
      [deleted]
    - mendigou 5y ago
      If you can't test it on Android Studio, you can still, you know, use a phone. And try calling.
- bsagdiyev 5y ago
  I feel like you’re being obtuse. They would need to verify that the call can be made and make it out the phone to the network, not actually make the call to a 911 operator. This can be part of an automated test suite even. Just ensure specific phone numbers cannot be intercepted by applications and diverted.
  - nikanj 5y ago
    How do I, an lone app vendor, verify that my call makes it out of the phone, or abort it without 911 noticing a dropped call? The radio+network part is a black box from my perspective PS: At least where I live, emergency services will show up at your house if you make a few 0-second 911 calls
    - np- 5y ago
      You can contact your 911 call center through a non emergency line (numbers available here when you enter your state/region: https://www.nasna911.org/contact-911 https://www.nasna911.org/contact-911). You can then call and set up a time window for outbound test calls to be placed where they won’t send emergency services.
      - SAI_Peregrinus 5y ago
        I've worked on some custom Android firmwares before, and I did this for our releases. It's easy, the 911 call center doesn't mind (it's scheduled beforehand), and it ensures that the phone can dial 911. If you can't manage to test emergency calls, don't release phone software.
    - PKop 5y ago
      If you can't test this, don't make a call-hijacking phone app. Simple as that!
      - _djo_ 5y ago
        Yes, that's the clear and obvious answer. We have regulations around things like being able to make 911 calls for a reason, because it's literally a life and death issue. Nobody should be making or selling a call-hijacking app if they can't perform even the most basic level of testing to ensure 911 calls still work.
- np- 5y ago
  Can’t seem to reply any deeper on the thread, but also I never specifically mentioned CI. The only rule is that if you release a phone app, 911 has to work 100% of the time, no exceptions. That is the law. Also, this is Google and Microsoft, both of whom have basically unlimited resources. However they figure out how to do it reliably is up to them. Note that no other apps or service providers seem to be out of compliance.

by np- 5y ago

nikanj 5y ago

So every app vendor now needs to make a 911 call as part of their CI process? I don't think 911 call centers are very happy about this.

np- 5y ago
Every app vendor who sells a phone product in the US? Uh, yes? It’s the law. 911 Call centers literally make testing available for this. And all you really need to test is that you’re making the outbound call properly without shit hitting the fan. What’s the alternative? Just have 911 calls fail every once in a while since everybody is too busy with their feature work to look into it?
- nikanj 5y ago
  Ok, how do I test-dial 911 from Android Studio?
  - dsr_ 5y ago
    How do you test anything in Android Studio? Do it that way. (googling says: https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/connectivity/telecom/selfManaged https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/connectivity/tele... and hook up a test device )
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
  - mendigou 5y ago
    If you can't test it on Android Studio, you can still, you know, use a phone. And try calling.
bsagdiyev 5y ago
I feel like you’re being obtuse. They would need to verify that the call can be made and make it out the phone to the network, not actually make the call to a 911 operator. This can be part of an automated test suite even. Just ensure specific phone numbers cannot be intercepted by applications and diverted.
- nikanj 5y ago
  How do I, an lone app vendor, verify that my call makes it out of the phone, or abort it without 911 noticing a dropped call? The radio+network part is a black box from my perspective PS: At least where I live, emergency services will show up at your house if you make a few 0-second 911 calls
  - np- 5y ago
    You can contact your 911 call center through a non emergency line (numbers available here when you enter your state/region: https://www.nasna911.org/contact-911 https://www.nasna911.org/contact-911). You can then call and set up a time window for outbound test calls to be placed where they won’t send emergency services.
    - SAI_Peregrinus 5y ago
      I've worked on some custom Android firmwares before, and I did this for our releases. It's easy, the 911 call center doesn't mind (it's scheduled beforehand), and it ensures that the phone can dial 911. If you can't manage to test emergency calls, don't release phone software.
  - PKop 5y ago
    If you can't test this, don't make a call-hijacking phone app. Simple as that!
    - _djo_ 5y ago
      Yes, that's the clear and obvious answer. We have regulations around things like being able to make 911 calls for a reason, because it's literally a life and death issue. Nobody should be making or selling a call-hijacking app if they can't perform even the most basic level of testing to ensure 911 calls still work.
np- 5y ago
Can’t seem to reply any deeper on the thread, but also I never specifically mentioned CI. The only rule is that if you release a phone app, 911 has to work 100% of the time, no exceptions. That is the law. Also, this is Google and Microsoft, both of whom have basically unlimited resources. However they figure out how to do it reliably is up to them. Note that no other apps or service providers seem to be out of compliance.