Determining that 911 requires unnecessary rotation time on rotary dial telephones , the European Union has adopted its own standardized number of 112 .
Countries in Asia and the rest of the world use a variety of other two - or three - digit emergency telephone number combinations .
Determining that 911 requires unnecessary rotation time on rotary dial telephones , the European Union has adopted its own standardized number of 112 , while countries in Asia and the rest of the world use a variety of other two - or three - digit emergency telephone number combinations .