Abstract: In one aspect when a security application stored in a memory of a portable device is initiated results in: determining location information of the device; actuating a microphone and/or a camera of the device to capture at audio and/or image data; and wirelessly sending to a pre-determined emergency service the location information and the captured audio and/or image data. In another aspect of the invention a private emergency service is operated using at least one server by storing an association of a calling phone identifier with a called phone identifier; receiving location information for the calling phone and audio and/or image data captured by the calling phone; using the received calling phone identifier to access the memory and determine the called phone identifier, and sending to the called phone a message comprising at least the received location information and the received audio and/or image data.