MVCI not part of latest expansion for Mobile Services

[FractionalTraveler]

Based on this, triangulation is useless in a high density high rise. That 300 meter radius could encompass the entire complex of Beach Place Towers. It would take them a lot of time to knock down doors of all 206 units there to find the one that a 911 call is coming from.

Of course, I suppose that if someone called from the in unit land line, they may have the same challenge.

We had an incident a few years back at 2AM at the Monterey Marriott Hotel in California. My son stopped breathing in the middle of the night due to a bad case of Croup.

What worked well for us that evening was to have the front desk call 911 for us and let the Fire Department know our room number directly. They responded in less than 5 minutes. There was a fire station less than 2 miles from the Hotel.

My son was fine after about 10 minutes of Oxygen!

What I would say about this incident in light of today's technology is that if you are in your room it may make sense to just call the front desk first anyways and have them call 911. This may be important since many of the MVCI resorts have several layers of security access controls on site. I wouldn't want any time wasted by the first responders trying to navigate a potentially unknown and large property for example like Grande Vista. I would want the property staff to assist in some way to expedite the travel time to the incident.

I would also add, that the cell phone comes in very handy especially when you are not in a generally known area of the property. I worked several years at NY Jamaica Queens Hospital Ambulance unit and found that during the course of life threatening events its entirely possible for humans to not be able to recall where they are located especially when Trauma has occurred. This is where the cell phone becomes very useful.

If we had called 911 from our room using the villa phone we would have needed to provide the room number anyways since this is not transmitted as part of a telephony record set to exchanges outside the trunk. Same with the cell phone.

There are still pockets of the United States of course that don't have or receive poor wireless coverage leading to reliability concerns for emergency usage but that is becoming lesser of a risk as each day passes.

If you have a smartphone built in the last 2 years, that triangulation technology today is down to about 50 feet in radius. That's amazing!

In a relatively short time, wireless technology will approach the reliability of landlines due to its pervasiveness and cost effectiveness.

FT

 

[Docklander]

We're at Waiohai right now - minimal/no T-mobile signal in the rooms or in large parts of the property. Can't see landlines going anywhere until there is universally good cell coverage.

 

[aka Julie]

We're at Waiohai right now - minimal/no T-mobile signal in the rooms or in large parts of the property. Can't see landlines going anywhere until there is universally good cell coverage.

Agree 100%. We finally upgraded to Smartphones and switched to Verizon from a local wireless carrier. Reception is terrible in our house with some calls dropped. Wanted to get rid of landline, but with this lousy reception, I don't feel comfortable doing it. :annoyed:

 

[BocaBoy]

Yep, we still have a total of 1 payphone per terminal at the MIA airport. It is also at the Smithsonian in D.C.

FT

You are a master at responding to a point by ignoring the major thrust of the comment and referencing a minor side item that was never what the original comment was about. Must be a politician.

 

[m61376]

There are still people who do not own cell phones, and many others who do not regularly use them. While they may seem ubiquitous, I'd venture to guess a sizable number of especially more senior vacationers would balk at not having phones in their rooms.

And at overseas resorts, who wants to be charged international rates for calling the front desk or concierge? I'd be upset if they removed the landlines, even though I love my IPhone. My DH, on the other hand, uses his as little as possible, and on vacation it generally stays home. Luckily he has partners who handle the office, and it's only recently that he'll even check email. So not everyone on vacation is well connected, and I do think landlines will be here for a long time in hotel properties, if only for internal calls.

I'm guessing that many, if not most, visitors pick up the phone in the room to call the front desk, rather than use their cell phone.

 

[dioxide45]

We had an incident a few years back at 2AM at the Monterey Marriott Hotel in California. My son stopped breathing in the middle of the night due to a bad case of Croup.

What worked well for us that evening was to have the front desk call 911 for us and let the Fire Department know our room number directly. They responded in less than 5 minutes. There was a fire station less than 2 miles from the Hotel.

Did you call the front desk using the in room phone and pressing 0 or use your cell phone? It seems the in room phone would be much faster in the situation you found yourself in. I don't know many people that have the hotel's phone number on speed dial. Sure, one could look at the phone to get the phone number to call the front desk with their cell phone, but why? Just press 0.

 

[puckmanfl]

good morning....

I just love this BBS... just amazing where these threads go!!!

Best value entertainment $15 year for all this fun!!!!

Way to go TUG..

just love when the regulars get involved in some good natured back/forth...

 

[FractionalTraveler]

Did you call the front desk using the in room phone and pressing 0 or use your cell phone? It seems the in room phone would be much faster in the situation you found yourself in. I don't know many people that have the hotel's phone number on speed dial. Sure, one could look at the phone to get the phone number to call the front desk with their cell phone, but why? Just press 0.

On that particular occasion, I called using my cell phone but only because it was a direct line to the property that I had saved. I agree most people would not have or care to have that number in their contact list.

I do because I stay in a lot of hotel rooms throughout the year for business travel. I also have many of my employees staying at hotels as well.

As a courtesy, I usually receive the business card of the GM onsite at check-in. As a mater of practice, I enter that information in my mobile when I get to the room. Especially the Monterey Marriott which is a beautiful hotel in a prime location.

FT