Whistles. Alarms. Your smartphone. What do these things have in common? They can all call for help.

SOS (News - Alert) Rescue Me App, an app that actually serves an important purpose, works by alerting friends and relatives via SMS and, yes, even Facebook (News - Alert), with a GPS location that the user is in need of help.

The app was created over at appsmakerstore.com, a site that that allows users to create and publish their own mobile app in a matter of a few clicks online.

The SOS Rescue Me app was born out necessity. Steinar Bredesen, CEO of Numa AS in Norway decided to do something about the increasing number of attacks on young females in Oslo. Realizing that such incidents were part of a larger global problem, Bredesen created the app so that anyone being targeted can get help with their device, and not just for calling 911.

“We have great expectations for this mobile app for personal safety, especially with the busy Christmas season coming up. By combining alerts via SMS to selected contacts, it will allow Facebook to push updates when turned on with GPS tracking with features of preventative functions such as fake calls and witness functions I really hope that we can contribute in a positive way of stopping the violence.” said Bredesen in a release.

Because mobile devices have become equipped to do so much more than simply call or text, mobile device users can maximize the potential of their gadgets. An often overlooked category is safety, but SOS Rescue Me joins the ranks of quite a few other safety apps out there.

Safety Button is a simple iPhone (News - Alert) app that allows users to start the program, push the big red button and it begins tracing the user’s step and reporting to a server. If the red button is pressed again (in case of distress), the server will send your emergency contact person a panic message containing your position.

Android (News - Alert) application SafetyNet is activated when the phone is shaken and can function in panic mode or medical mode even if the app isn’t running which will immediately alert everyone in your “SafetyNet” sending them your position and a distress call. SafetyNet is ideal for people with medical issues or lone joggers.

Rave Alert calls themselves the “next generation alerting system” for mass emergencies and is employed in places like colleges or apartment communities to alert a large group at one time via text messaging, email, PA system, Facebook and even via Twitter (News - Alert). It is being adopted most quickly by colleges and high schools in this post-Virginia Tech era.