US to Test Emergency Phone Alerts

Iria · Jul 30, 2005, 12:44 AM

The U.S. Government is now looking into ways to provide citizens with emergency alerts on their cell phones.

The Senate Subcommittee on Disaster Prevention and Prediction met earlier in the week to discuss if such a service would be feasible and how it would work.

Legislators say the current method, the Emergency Alert System, is simply outdated. That method uses radio and television to alert of natural disasters, emergencies, or terrorist attacks.

In consideration is a Web site where users would be able to go to sign up for alerts, which they would then receive on their cell phones in the form of a text message.

However, the idea is only in its formative stages, so the cost, if any, to the user is unknown.

FEMA expects to start some pilot studies next year, and hopes to have a timeline for the replacement of EAS by that time.
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Source: BetaNews

El Kapitano · Jul 31, 2005, 01:08 AM

woohoo you yanks can get spam from your govmnt on your mobiles....lucky buggers.

The_Neon_Cowboy · Jul 31, 2005, 02:28 AM

Joy as if it wasn't annying enough on TV now they are bugging cell phone users

What a great IDEA!~!!!

Lets tie up the phone networks with worthless messages in the event of an emergancy
that way when people need to make calls to save lives they will get a busy tone!

Jul 30, 2005, 12:44 AM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 87	US to Test Emergency Phone Alerts The U.S. Government is now looking into ways to provide citizens with emergency alerts on their cell phones. The Senate Subcommittee on Disaster Prevention and Prediction met earlier in the week to discuss if such a service would be feasible and how it would work. Legislators say the current method, the Emergency Alert System, is simply outdated. That method uses radio and television to alert of natural disasters, emergencies, or terrorist attacks. In consideration is a Web site where users would be able to go to sign up for alerts, which they would then receive on their cell phones in the form of a text message. However, the idea is only in its formative stages, so the cost, if any, to the user is unknown. FEMA expects to start some pilot studies next year, and hopes to have a timeline for the replacement of EAS by that time. __________ Source: BetaNews

Jul 31, 2005, 02:28 AM	#3
The_Neon_Cowboy HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 16,009 Rep Power: 90 System Specs	Joy as if it wasn't annying enough on TV now they are bugging cell phone users What a great IDEA!~!!! Lets tie up the phone networks with worthless messages in the event of an emergancy that way when people need to make calls to save lives they will get a busy tone! __________________

Jul 31, 2005, 01:08 AM	#2
El Kapitano Most of the 7 dwarfs in 1 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rochdale, Lancashire Posts: 947 Rep Power: 0	woohoo you yanks can get spam from your govmnt on your mobiles....lucky buggers.