First responders throughout the world will be happy with this change Google made to Android،
Back in April, we reported that the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) posted a tweet warning Android users about accidental emergency calls that were jamming the OPP switchboard. Pressing the power button five or more times in a row on many Android phones will call emergency services, share information with them, and record video. Cops asked Android users to disable the feature by going to Settings > Safety and emergency > Emergency SOS. Disable Use emergency SOS. This “Emergency SOS” feature is enabled by default.
However, you might be upset about having this feature turned off when you find yourself in an emergency situation and you probably won’t have time to turn the feature back on. So Google changed the “Emergency SOS” which adds a layer of protection, so to speak. Android Expert Michael Rahman posted a tweet on “X” about an extra step that Android users can take after pressing the power button more than 5 times.
Google seems to have added this new step this summer and after pressing the power button the required number of times, a “touch and hold” button appears on the screen which you must press for three seconds for the system to call emergency services. It’s like this now Android Phones came out of the box by default and this should help ease the pressure on police switchboards, operators and dispatchers.
This “Hold & Touch” ringtone should reduce or even eliminate accidental emergency calls from Android phones
Those who prefer “Emergency SOS” to start without having to touch and hold the screen can configure their android phone to call emergency services after five or more presses of the power button after a five-second countdown.
Android users can decide to disable “Hold & Touch” if they want a more automatic emergency system
From Android 13Google has asked phone makers to include either the phone’s personal safety app or their own emergency information app on their device. Android Phones.
