Text Message to the Rescue

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Earl Grey - 30 Sep 2006 11:29 GMT

There's been a couple of stories in the national news lately about kids who
have been kidnapped or held in tough situations and got themselves rescued
by sending text messages to parents/friends from their cell phones when they
were left alone.

So why not just call them or dial 911? And what kind of dim-bulb kidnapper
would let his victim keep a cell phone?

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Lou - 30 Sep 2006 11:41 GMT

> There's been a couple of stories in the national news lately about kids who
> have been kidnapped or held in tough situations and got themselves rescued
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> So why not just call them or dial 911? And what kind of dim-bulb kidnapper
> would let his victim keep a cell phone?

Uh Maybe the kidnapper did not realize the victim had a phone or the
victim hid it?

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Evan Platt - 30 Sep 2006 17:37 GMT

> There's been a couple of stories in the national news lately about kids who
> have been kidnapped or held in tough situations and got themselves rescued
> by sending text messages to parents/friends from their cell phones when they
> were left alone.
>
> So why not just call them or dial 911?

Perhaps they're within earshot of the person?

> And what kind of dim-bulb kidnapper
> would let his victim keep a cell phone?

The stupid kind. The same kind that robs a bank and writes their
demand note on the back of one of their deposit slips.

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Fred - 01 Oct 2006 11:34 GMT

Also, many times if the cell service isn't good in an area a text message
will go through when a voice call will not.

Fred

> There's been a couple of stories in the national news lately about kids
> who have been kidnapped or held in tough situations and got themselves
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> So why not just call them or dial 911? And what kind of dim-bulb kidnapper
> would let his victim keep a cell phone?

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Lou - 01 Oct 2006 14:27 GMT

> Also, many times if the cell service isn't good in an area a text message
> will go through when a voice call will not.
>
> Fred

I didn't know that. Can others verify please?

Lou

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Frankster - 01 Oct 2006 14:48 GMT

>> Also, many times if the cell service isn't good in an area a text message
>> will go through when a voice call will not.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> Lou

True. After all, a text only takes a second or two of decent signal quality.
Voice takes a much longer duration of good signal quality to complete a
call.

Also, often you can write a text message in bits and pieces (when no one is
looking) and then send at the push of a button. Very discrete compared to
holding a phone to your ear and talking.

-Frank

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nospam - 01 Oct 2006 15:50 GMT

>> Also, many times if the cell service isn't good in an area a text message
>> will go through when a voice call will not.
>
> I didn't know that. Can others verify please?

Absolutely true. One word - Katrina. My cousin had evacuated to Baton
Rouge. No phone calls would go through in or out on his cell phone, but we
could text message.

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Lou - 01 Oct 2006 21:28 GMT

>>> Also, many times if the cell service isn't good in an area a text message
>>> will go through when a voice call will not.
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> Rouge. No phone calls would go through in or out on his cell phone, but we
> could text message.

Thanks to both replies.

Education is about knowing where to look for answers.

Lou

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clifto - 02 Oct 2006 21:01 GMT

>> Also, many times if the cell service isn't good in an area a text message
>> will go through when a voice call will not.
>
> I didn't know that. Can others verify please?

Unquestionably. The only reason I was able to get the wife to learn to text
was that we could communicate that way in large shopping areas where signal
is weak to nonexistent.

Signature

More abuse of eminent domain!
http://www.villagelandgrab.com/

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Earl Grey - 02 Oct 2006 21:12 GMT

>>> Also, many times if the cell service isn't good in an area a text
>>> message
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> signal
> is weak to nonexistent.

Jaysus man, you let your wife out of your sight in a mall? I hope you take
her credit cards....

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