Why dial 112 on a cell phone?

The number 112 is dialed as an emergency number in European countries, similar to 911 in the United States. Dialing the number in the United States results in the call being redirected to 911 on some phone systems, while it may not work at all on others.

The 911 system allows emergency responders to receive quick access to information about an emergency. The call is routed by a dispatcher to the appropriate responder along with pertinent information about the call that can help the responder act appropriately. This pertinent information includes the location of the caller and the nature of the emergency.