So what does this mean?
- Cell phones. If your phone is more than 5 years old and your service is with AT&T, Verizon, or Alltel you might want to check to see if it's an analog-only phone. If you can text with it, or it has a camera, you're ok. Less than 1% of phones are said to be affected by the shutdown, but many older people that do not often upgrade their electronics may still have these types of phones, as well as people living in rural areas. That old phone grandma keeps in the car trunk as an emergency 911 phone needs to be checked.
- Car communication services. Generally, cars from 2003 and older with OnStar, TeleAid or Lexus Link are affected, and most won't be upgradable. Upgrade kits are available for most OnStar systems from model years 2004 and 2005.
- Home alarm systems. Burglar and fire alarms that use the analog network as a backup link to your alarm company will need an upgrade. Also, homes with no wired phone service have used analog wireless service. Homes that have those will lose wireless backup alarms, which kick in if someone cuts the phone line. Alarm systems using newer digital wireless links became available in 2006.
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