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Re:Rotary Cellphone by Aardwolf on Wednesday February 12, 2020 @10:10AM (#22309374)
There are so many of them:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_emergency_telephone_nu...

In Europe many of them are variations of 1XX, but since there are so many and sometimes they change too, it's not trivial to remember which one.

The American 911 is more memorable, even in Europe, simply due to it appearing in popular culture so often, I hope that if someone dials that one in Europe it'll also get forwarded to a real emergency line.

Re:Rotary Cellphone by endless1234 on Wednesday February 12, 2020 @11:06AM (#22309933)
>In Europe many of them are variations of 1XX, but since there are so many and sometimes they change too, it's just ridiculous to remember them.

Eh? 112 works in the whole EU. As your link says. Of course old legacy numbers also work in many countries.

Re:Rotary Cellphone by TheRealPomax on Wednesday February 12, 2020 @11:09AM (#22309970)
It's almost as if Europe is not a country.

Just like the US, every country in has its own emergency numbers that you should probably know if you're in that country, but for Europe as a whole, 112 is the universal emergency number.

And while 911 might be known to many outside the US, as a number that requires actually navigating the dialing pad, it's not all that great. The UK's 999 or Europe's 112 are far better at being something you can dial while under duress (with 999, as a repeated number, being by far the superior choice here).

Re:Rotary Cellphone by spookthesunset on Wednesday February 12, 2020 @11:34AM (#22310234)
It is a trade off though. I’m sure “911” is no accident either. Because it is slightly harder to dial, it probably has far less accidental dialings than some other countries emergency numbers.

I bet little kids would constantly pick up a phone and dial “999999999”.... harder to mistakenly / playfully dial “911”

Re:Rotary Cellphone by grawprog on Wednesday February 12, 2020 @11:59AM (#22310465)
https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/here-s-wh...

>Up until 1968, the United States was still using hundreds of seven-digit emergency telephone numbers across the country. In fact, some states, like Nebraska, had more than 180 different ambulance service numbers alone.

>The code 911 was chosen because it best fit the needs of all parties involved,” according to the National Emergency Number Association (NENA). “First, and most important, it met public requirements because it is brief, easily remembered, and can be dialed quickly. Second, because it is a unique number, never having been authorized as an office code, area code or service code, it best met the long range numbering plans and switching configurations of the telephone industry.”

Re:Rotary Cellphone by C1sc0cat on Wednesday February 12, 2020 @11:37AM (#22310257)
911 is faster to dial, but 999 is easier to find in darkness /smoke
Re:Rotary Cellphone by WorldMaker on Wednesday February 12, 2020 @03:16PM (#22312342)
Not on a rotary phone: spinning to the first position is easier to find than the 9 (especially if trying to not go too far and hit the 0). On a traditional rotary 9-1-1 was one hard to dial number followed by the two easiest.
Re:Rotary Cellphone by icebraining on Wednesday February 12, 2020 @11:33AM (#22310220)
112 is the GSM standard, and works in countries all over the world: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/112_(emergency_telephone_numbe...
Re:Rotary Cellphone by 0_____0 on Wednesday February 12, 2020 @12:12PM (#22310577)
It forwards to 911 in the states? Good to know.