Cell Broadcast on mobile telephones can be used for early warning systems by Governments. A few countries in the world have already adopted this technique. This weblog focusses on CB use for early warnings.

Monday, September 24, 2007

New York will send crisis text via CB



Sept 2007_Abstract NY Post:
In the aftermath of the Deutsche Bank fire and the
Midtown steam-pipe explosion, city officials yesterday announced they
will begin testing rapid-alert programs to rush text messages to New
Yorkers' cellphones. Deputy Mayor Ed Skyler told lawmakers at a City Council hearing that a
pilot program using text messages as an early-alert system for
communities will be ready to roll out within a few months.

"We expect to launch the pilot at the end of this year. At the same
time, we are wary of it, because we know that the communications
infrastructure isn't as reliable as we would like," he said of brief
text messages that would be limited to 60 characters.

The Bloomberg administration has its eyes on what could be a more
effective alert system that would use mobile-phone networks to send
emergency messages to anyone carrying a phone within a specific swath of
the city.

Called "cell broadcasting," the alert system would require mobile-phone
companies to make upgrades to their infrastructure - changes that City
Hall is pushing for.

"It is not possible for us to use cell broadcasting today, because
wireless carriers have resisted investing resources in this emerging
technology," Skyler said.

Abstract NYpost