Testing begins on 999 text service for deaf

Trials of a free SMS (text messaging) system that allows people who can’t make voice calls to contact the emergency services went live yesterday.

The Government initiative, which uses the national emergency (999) number, is designed so people who are deaf, hard of hearing or who have speech impediments or other disabilities can use a mobile phone to summon help.

This person sends a text to the emergency services, and it is picked up by a relay assistant. The assistant then reads the SMS message to the emergency service required and types back a confirmation reply to the sender, which is sent as another text message.

This informs the sender that the message is being acted on and further texts may be sent with instructions or questions from the emergency services if needed.

However, Ofcom, the communications regulator, warned users that they should not assume their message has been received and understood until they receive the confirmation text back from the emergency services.

The service can also be used by textphone users; they have to dial 118000 to call the emergency services via the text relay service.

The trial is the culmination or around six years of planning by the Government, telecommunications groups, the emergency services and the RNID (Royal National Institute for the Deaf).

The pilot scheme, supported by telecoms companies BT, 3, Vodafone, O2, T-Mobile, Orange and Cable and Wireless is looking for several thousand people to take part. If successful it is expected to become a permanent service in 2010.

People need to register to use the service by sending a text message with the word 'register' to 999. Anyone not registered will not be able to use the service. Ofcom said making the message as simple as possible means the emergency can be acted upon more quickly.

For example: POLICE: road accident, junction High Street and Bridge Street, Southampton. Or FIRE at 123 Church Street, Northampton.