India will make the emergency panic button mandatory on all mobile phones sold in the country from January 2017. A government statement released on April 25 said all phones sold from 2018 should possess an inbuilt global positioning system (GPS) and either the number key five or nine will be designated as the emergency number on the mobile device.

Like Us on Facebook

"Technology is solely meant to make the human life better and what better than using it for the security of women," Communications and IT Minister of India Ravi Shankar Prasad said. "I have taken a decision that from January 1, 2017, no cell phone can be sold without a provision for panic button, and from January 1, 2018, mobile sets should also have Global Positioning System inbuilt."

In March 2016, the government of India announced plans to create a system where people can simply call "112" for emergency support from police, ambulance or the fire department. The telecom department also proposed that all existing emergency numbers - such as 100, 101, 102 and 108 - used in the country should be retained as secondary numbers, which would then be re-routed to the new emergency number 112.

Many believe that this step may help provide more security for mobile users, particularly children, elderly and women. However, there are fears that mobile costs may go up. Telecommunication companies have to remodel and also develop new software applications - and all this means additional costs, which could be added to the final product.

It is possible to arm mobile phones with a panic button and GPS, but to get it connected and working with another support network may be challenging, according to experts.

Tagsglobal positioning system (GPS), India, Mobile Phones