Telecom Minister to talk to smartphone makers over implementing Panic button

Amid worries that government’s move to make panic button mandatory will increase cost of mobile handsets, telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Thursday said he will take up the issue up with the industry. Government has mandated that all mobile phones to be sold in India January 1, 2017, should have a panic button enabling users to make emergency call or send out alerts to multiple numbers by just pressing a button. Further, apex mobile phone industry body Indian Cellular Association has said GPS component would add cost of about Rs. The telecom minister also inaugurated Rahuri Municipal Council of Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra linking its services with digital locker.