They made you reachable wherever you are; they entertained and informed you while on the move; and now, cellular phones are all geared up to act as life saving devices in case of emergency. The officials in California are planning to send warnings about threats ranging from terrorist attacks, floods, earthquakes, road calamities, wildfires, tsunamis, and campus massacres through cell phones.

In an information-gathering hearing, Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, from the state Emergency Council, informed that California is working with U.S. agencies that are developing a federal alert system via cell phone to implement the mobile alert system. But California is also well equipped to proceed without them. Garamendi, who served in the Clinton administration, feels that the federal government may not act as quickly as the authorities in California. He indicated that the exigency of the moment should encourage California to act now and implement the system as soon as possible.

Indeed, Californians may see this system implemented soon, as the authorities there are already working on cell phone towers to broadcast tone and text warnings of imminent dangers. These warnings will be sent out to all cell phones and Blackberry-type devices in a specific zone. When receiving a warning, the user will hear a different tone unlike the usual ring tones. Implementing this system does not necessitate passing any legislation and it also has utility regulators' backing.

When such uninvited warning messages are being sent to everyone, the phone owners privacy issue will also need to be taken care of. But the authorities in California feel that sending out mass warning messages will not invade the privacy as the message sent out to all those phones served by a particular communications relay tower near a danger/accident zone. In this way, the messages are not “targeted” and the senders of the message do not know who owns the phone.

The state’s emergency panel has not set any deadline to implement the system. It will shortly hold meeting with state homeland security agents, Public Utilities Commission representatives and emergency services officials. It will also hold meetings with cell-phone providers who need to broadcast the warning to customers. According to Henry Renteria, director of the governor's Office of Emergency Services, the system could be ready and start working in the next 12 to 14 months.

The Californian lawmakers are also planning to add the new cell-alert system to some other public warning systems like National Weather Service bulletins, Emergency Broadcast System, and the Amber Alert System.

An important point to consider when sending out the warning messages is the possibility of mass hysteria. But studies have shown that public will actually be less panicky than had been expected when they receive an alert. The system is currently being tested in Contra Costa County, which, according to authorities, “has the most advanced, integrated, comprehensive, all-hazard warning system in the state.”

It will be interesting to see how successful this mobile alert program will be.

--------

Raju Shanbhag is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To see more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.

Don't forget to check out TMCnet’s White Paper Library, which provides a selection of in-depth information on relevant topics affecting the IP Communications industry. The library offers white papers, case studies and other documents which are free to registered users.

Also be sure to attend TMC’s (News - Alert) Communications Developer Conference to be held May 14-17, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara, Calif. Come learn how to build the next generation of IP-based communications products and services!