Transmitting a medical alert directly to an emergency dispatch office

A method for enabling a user to transmit a medical alert, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a cellular device that comprises a body, a microprocessor, a data store, a wireless communication module, a reader and a fall detector at least partially housed within the body, wherein the microprocessor is configured to control the operation of the cellular device, the data store is configured to store a phone number of at least one predetermined call recipient, the wireless communication module is connectable to a cellular network, the reader is configured to receive a subscriber identity module identification card (“SIM card”), and the fall detector is configured to detect the occurrence of a fall by a user;
• providing a limited use SIM card that is configured to only require a one-time fee before identifying and authenticating a user of the cellular device, wherein the SIM card is operable with the wireless communication module upon being inserted into the reader;
• and
• providing fall detection software on the cellular device that is executable when the fall detector detects a fall by the user, wherein upon executing the fall detection software, the microprocessor retrieves a phone number saved on the data store, connects to the cellular network, and establishes a communication link with a predetermined call recipient by dialing the phone number.

A method for transmitting a medical alert, comprising the steps of:

• providing a cellular device that comprises a body, at least one user actuatable button supported by the body, a microprocessor, a data store, a wireless communication module, and a reader at least partially housed within the body, wherein the microprocessor is configured to control the operation of the cellular device, the data store is configured to store a phone number of at least one predetermined call recipient, the wireless communication module is connectable to a cellular network, and the reader is configured to receive a subscriber identity module identification card (“SIM card”);
• inserting a limited use SIM card into the reader, the limited use SIM card being configured to identify and authenticate a user of the cellular device, wherein the SIM card is operable with the wireless communication module upon being inserted into the reader;
• associating the phone number with a user actuatable button such that, upon actuating the user actuatable button, preprogrammed software on the cellular device is executed by the microprocessor to retrieve the phone number from the data store, connect to the cellular network, and establish a communication link with the call recipient by dialing the phone number, wherein the phone number is independent of a subscription based monitoring service;
• and
• actuating the user actuatable button to connect to the cellular network and establish the communication link with the call recipient.