keeping phone after upgrading...how to disable 911 calls?

[ruachi2]

I'm looking for a permanent way to disable all outgoing calls from a deactivated phone. Obviously, once the phone is deactivated, no regular outgoing calls can be made. However, 911 calls will still go through. I am hoping to be able to comfortably hand the phone to my son so he can play games, etc. on it (previously downloaded apps.) But I don't want any accidental 911 calls going out. Any ideas? I've read several other threads but haven't seen anything that specifically addresses this concern. Thanks.

 

[Unforgiven]

I gave my four year old son my OG Droid and didn't have a problem with that. I did disable data. But be careful with in app purchases though, I did get zapped with that. I didn't even know they were part of the game. Maybe google should make that part if the permissions disclosure.

 

[EarlyMon]

Welcome to the forums!

I'm not sure, but you might try some of the parental control apps, free in the Market.

As I recall, those let you password protect any app.

My idea is that if you can password protect the phone dialer, you'll be all set.

There's some big deal about any cell phone being able to contact emergency services, so I think that approach is your only reasonable way.

Here's one I picked at random, if it doesn't do the job, then maybe others in its class will.

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.vlobe.smartappcloud.android.parentalcontrol

As an alternative, you could root the phone and cripple it that way, but that seems like an awful lot of work and agony to go through if there's simply an app for that.

Please let us know if you find that sort of thing works!

 

[ruachi2]

Awesome! Thanks...I didn't know that the phone dialer was something that could be password protected. I'll be downloading an app for it tonight.

Pupkact....about the in app purchase....was your son able to do this because your phone was connected by wifi? If not, how was the phone connected? I'm just wondering if this is even going to be an issue for us since we don't have wifi. I hope not. About the 911 thing...I have a friend who's son has dialed 911 multiple times on a deactivated phone which is why I'm paranoid about it. Anyway, thanks for the heads up.

 

[EarlyMon]

Glad to help!

If you can't protect the dialer, I see that they added a thing called Safe Sandbox - if I'm reading that right, you can also go the opposite way - rather than restricting apps, only allowing certain apps to work (and the dialer is just an app).

Hope that works, I'm really curious - I have youngsters here myself!

 

[jerofld]

If the apps EM suggested don't work, I know of an alternative:

Seal lite
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.sebastian.sealtrial

Seal paid
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.sebastian.seal

 

[Unforgiven]

Awesome! Thanks...I didn't know that the phone dialer was something that could be password protected. I'll be downloading an app for it tonight.

Pupkact....about the in app purchase....was your son able to do this because your phone was connected by wifi? If not, how was the phone connected? I'm just wondering if this is even going to be an issue for us since we don't have wifi. I hope not. About the 911 thing...I have a friend who's son has dialed 911 multiple times on a deactivated phone which is why I'm paranoid about it. Anyway, thanks for the heads up.

It was connected via WIFI and he figured out how to do the in app purchase. I wasn't so much upset at him as that I didn't know that in app purchases were allowed in the app. Thankfully it was only 99 cents, but I think that where permissions are disclosed in the Market, the ability for in app purchases should be one of them.

 

[Saltine713]

Umm...yeah. Not to be that person, but doing this is a big no-no. I know you want to give the phone to your son, but you would need to install an app like that sandbox one that prevents access to the dialer. Doing it any other way would land you a felony, irregardless for someone in your family. It is a felony to render any communication device, especially a telephone, or a person from calling 911 when they need or want to do so.

So, as long as there is still a workaround and a possibility to call 911, then fine. But permanently disabling it, no. And sure, no one will probably ever know, but just putting it out there.

 

[Unforgiven]

Umm...yeah. Not to be that person, but doing this is a big no-no. I know you want to give the phone to your son, but you would need to install an app like that sandbox one that prevents access to the dialer. Doing it any other way would land you a felony, irregardless for someone in your family. It is a felony to render any communication device, especially a telephone, or a person from calling 911 when they need or want to do so.

So, as long as there is still a workaround and a possibility to call 911, then fine. But permanently disabling it, no. And sure, no one will probably ever know, but just putting it out there.

WOW, I had no idea, would rooting it and renaming the dialer apk I'm not familiar with all the apk but I assume there is one specific to the dialer or one that supports cellular communication) to something like apk.bak be ok? Would it even work?

 

[EarlyMon]

I did mention that was a big thing because I didn't have time to double check. Now that it's confirmed as a felony, let's not discuss it. Otherwise, further chatter will teach how to commit the crime.

Cheers, thanks!

 

[Unforgiven]

I did mention that was a big thing because I didn't have time to double check. Now that it's confirmed as a felony, let's not discuss it. Otherwise, further chatter will teach how to commit the crime.

Cheers, thanks!

Yikes, I'm going Kernal Klink on this one, "I know nothing, nothing"

I guess you learn something new everyday.

 

[Saltine713]

Just wanted to put it out there, as if someone wanted to use the phone and it couldn't dial out to 911 even if it is deactivated, the user who did that would be in mighty trouble. That is why carriers allow 911 after deactivation, otherwise they would be in trouble as well.

 

[mamawm]

check out the app famigo sandbox, free in the market, it is the best way to allow young children to play games.
here's a good review of the app Famigo lets you share your Android devices with your kids, worry free! [App Review]
and here's the market linkhttps://market.android.com/details?id=com.famigo.sandbox&hl=en

 

[Deleted User]

I'm looking for a permanent way to disable all outgoing calls from a deactivated phone. Obviously, once the phone is deactivated, no regular outgoing calls can be made. However, 911 calls will still go through. I am hoping to be able to comfortably hand the phone to my son so he can play games, etc. on it (previously downloaded apps.) But I don't want any accidental 911 calls going out. Any ideas? I've read several other threads but haven't seen anything that specifically addresses this concern. Thanks.

The easiest way is to put it on permanent airplane mode.. no calls, no data worries etc. Works well with my nephews.

 

[logicalsteve]

Unless your phone is really old, you could probably sell it online for about what a used Gameboy would cost.....but I'm one of those guys who never got the whole "games on your telephone" thing.

 

[Unforgiven]

Unless your phone is really old, you could probably sell it online for about what a used Gameboy would cost.....but I'm one of those guys who never got the whole "games on your telephone" thing.

Except that the phones we are giving are already loaded with the games our kids want to play. Many that we purchased for them to play while we get things like grocery shopping done.

 

[mamawm]

Unless your phone is really old, you could probably sell it online for about what a used Gameboy would cost.....but I'm one of those guys who never got the whole "games on your telephone" thing.

Gaming is not particularly my thing either, but until you've sat in an emergency room with an injured 4 yr old, you just can't appreciate how handy kids connect the dots, Barbie memory, etc. really is.

 

[Unforgiven]

Gaming is not particularly my thing either, but until you've sat in an emergency room with an injured 4 yr old, you just can't appreciate how handy kids connect the dots, Barbie memory, etc. really is.

Haven't done the ER thing, thankfully. But certainly doctor's office and other appointments.

 

[Saltine713]

The airplane mode idea would work. Or, use a different launcher and have the dialer app password protected.

 

[manoflinux]

First off show me someone that has been arrested for this?
Secondly without even looking at the law I am pretty sure its to stop people from selling phones without 911.
Why do I say that, because google has these on the playstore.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=the.radioshutoff&hl=en
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nxnwsoftware.ncr&hl=en
several ways of doing this.
http://android.stackexchange.com/qu...ermanently-disable-the-cell-radio-of-my-phone
And there is this, its a script manager script to do the same thing.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1217038
there is this, a rom update to do just that as well.
http://rootzwiki.com/topic/25016-modany-phone-any-rom-wi-fi-only-mode-disable-cell-radio/

Its your device and if you want to turn off a radio, you can, doesn't matter which, wifi, bluetooth or even cell radio.
Otherwise airplane mode wouldn’t exist in the first place, use some logic.
No one is going to arrest you, unless you open a store selling phones without 911 service.


And to people who think why is this guy responding to an old thread.
My response is not version specific and would have been just as valid if I had posted it 3 years ago.

 

[mamawm]

don't you just love getting called a sheep by someone who can't read well enough to realize that they've just revived a three year old, completely dead thread. sheesh.........

 

[manoflinux]

still misinformation and needs to be corrected.

 

[EarlyMon]

still misinformation and needs to be corrected.

What needs correction is your attitude where you think it's ok to come in and flame people because you want to show off how smart you are.

That doesn't fly here.

Thread cleaned.

/thread closed