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    Handset makers reject DoT diktat to put panic buttons on existing phones

    Synopsis

    For phones that stopped selling five years ago, there is no feasible way to know if the device is still active and what software version it is on.

    ET Bureau
    NEW DELHI: Handset makers have rejected a telecom department (DoT) diktat to put panic buttons on all existing phones, citing prohibitive costs among the major reasons, and want the rule be applied to only new devices.

    The industry wants a clarification on the cut-off date for putting panic buttons on the new devices. The industry has said that the cost of developing, testing and deploying an updated system software and application software —commonly known as maintenance release (MR) — for known versions of the software would be anywhere between $500,000 and $750,000 (Rs 3.35 crore and Rs 5 crore) per device software version.

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    “Considering the huge number of models accumulated over the years, it will be near impossible to enable them through software update, or patch,” the Indian Cellular Association (ICA) said in a letter to telecom secretary JS Deepak and electronics and information technology secretary Aruna Sharma.EThad seen a copy of the letter. The industry cited the existence of a large number of models as another hindrance in taking this initiative forward, arguing that some of the brands that these devices may belong to do not even exist.

    It also raised the issue of the number of operating systems in use at present. “Meeting the time table for new models is already a stretch because the functionality requires a long lead time to design, implement and most importantly, test,” the association, that represents handset makers such as Apple, Samsung and Micromax, said. The industry communication comes after the government last month asked handset makers to install panic button on all existing phones, widening the scope of an April 22 rule which had mandated panic button on all new phones from January 1, 2017. The rules aimed at improving women’s safety in the country.

    ICA explained that an MR must be developed and tested individually for every device and software version that is in circulation, because a single MR is not applicable to all devices in the market as some phones may be based on different software versions. For phones that stopped selling five years ago, there is no feasible way to know if the device is still active and what software version it is on. Some of the older software versions may not be supported by original equipment makers anymore.
    The Economic Times

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