Mastodawn

Jul 16, 2025

@LaF0rge @stman @kDelta @Sempf obviously that's why it was discontinued for a time in #Germany, as it was considered as obsolete as #HSCSD is in light of faster standards that - even without guaranteed bandwith - will yield higher throughput.

Obviously #CellBroadcast will necessitate a constant bandwith allocation for functionality as it's design is based upon repeating a message until it's transmissiom being removed.

Still, even in contended #spectrum this is manageable, espechally since most #MNOs only maintain vestigal #2G or #3G infrastructure solely for #emergency coverage and reliability, as most phones will call emergency services over 2G and 3G and not via #VoLTE.

To add insult to injury, most BSCs will downgrade to 2G-only service by default in case of power loss to maximize UPS range and in the case of #NewZealand even switch off all services but #SMS & #EmergencyServicesCalling to enshure people in need can get their calls out, as the population is instructed to use SMS for person-to-person communication (as SMS is a low-priority, non-realtime service using excess bandwith and thus not compete with calling like #EDGE and #CSD would.

Kevin Karhan :verified: (@kkarhan@infosec.space)

@stman@mastodon.social well, there were *some commercial services* that used #CellBroadcast but for the most part it's *best feature* is the effective mass alerting of people in an area without needing them to *install yet another app* or *signup to yet another service*... - The [temporary] shutdown of #CellBroadcast caused hundreds of avoidable deaths [in Germany alone.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_European_floods#Germany) @kDelta@mastodon.ie @Sempf@infosec.exchange @LaF0rge@chaos.social @nitrokey@nitrokey.com @signalapp@mastodon.world @GrapheneOS@grapheneos.social

Infosec.Space

Kevin Karhan

Jan 21, 2025

[#TLDR: JUST TELL ME IF YOUR TABLET CAN DO #CALLS!]

#DearVendors of #Android-#Tablets:

Off all the #Functions you can put into a #Specifications Sheet of your Devices there's one you should ALWAYS answer clearly on your #Website:

DOES YOUR TABLET [with #4G / #5G / …) SUPPORT MAKING PHONE CALLS?

NOT "It can run #WhatsApp" (or whatever shitty #CCSS for #VoIP you think of)...
NOT "It can do #CSD / #HSCSD / #2G / #3G /..."
But DOES IT SUPPORT #GSM-#Calls (and/or #VoLTE)??

Like: IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK TO HAVE THAT INFO IN THE SPECSHEETS?

You're obviously able to list all the #Codecs natively supported and the user-available storage as well as supported Frequency Bands, WWAN modes, WiFi channel width and the Display Glass vs. Panel dimensions including DPI of the latter and whether or not it has a hall effect sensor to detect your overpriced 1st party tablet covers!

Now some folks may ask: "WHY does this matter?" or outright dismiss this as a problem.

Listen:
Not everyone is able or willing to carry two devices when 1 SHOULD BE ENOUGH and also some places (i.e. #Turkey) have #ImportRestrictions re: #MobileDevices, so having more than 1 #IMEI is already a "NOPE!" by the authorities.

Also this isn't something one can "fix" post-purchase like installing #VLC to decode some obscure file format in Software: Either the #Baseband and #ROM support #PhoneCalls or they don't!

So why do NONE of the #Tablet manufacturers allow to #search or #filter for that???

Bonus points if you have lazy fucks like #HMD (aka. #Nokia) who literally copy the #Safety & #Useage information for all #Smartphones and #Tablets and don't even bother to change "Mobile Phone" for "Tablet".

NO, instead one has to download an obscenely huge #PDF just to then read on page 34 that for any "#telephony" function you NEED YET ANOTHER DEVICE FROM THE SAME MANUFACTURER AND HAVE TO SIGNUP WITH AN ACCOUNT and even that level of #abuse WON'T GUARANTEE THAT IT WORKS...

I mean, come on, this ain't some obscure functionality like #OMAPI to do some "evil sourcery" like managing an #eSIM that is in a #SIM-Card form factor!

Pretty shure A LOT of other folks have the same question and ain't willing to get yet another device & #SIM just to recieve the occasional call because #TechIlliterates can't be assed to send an #eMail or learn #XMPP+#OMEMO to message one...

Obviously they same manufacturers are able and willing to specify f-stops of the built-in cameras and list EVERY SINGLE #WEARABLE they made and certify as 'compatible' with, as if anyone is gonna take their non-#waterproof #Tablet for a marathon or god forbid triathlon...

#Rant #TechSupport #Technology #Support #Sysadmin #Procurement #IT #SpecSheet #Tech