The phrase signifies a state the place an Android gadget is restricted to creating calls to emergency providers solely. This limitation sometimes arises when the gadget can’t hook up with a mobile community because of numerous causes, comparable to a lacking or inactive SIM card, a community outage, or a software program malfunction. For instance, a telephone displaying this message will solely permit dialing numbers like 911 (within the US), 112 (in Europe), or different region-specific emergency numbers.
This performance is crucial for security, guaranteeing that people can contact emergency providers even when normal community connectivity is unavailable. Its implementation has developed alongside cellular expertise, changing into a regular characteristic on trendy smartphones to deal with conditions the place customers are in misery however lack common community entry. This functionality supplies an important security internet, particularly in areas with inconsistent community protection or when a person’s account is suspended.