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US Carriers and Government Consider Cell Broadcast

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Neat Idea - Just Don't Overuse It

maxrebo

Dec 11, 2006, 8:58 AM
I think this is a nifty idea since it can alert people for the area they are in (especially handy when traveling since you wouldn't have to do anything to make it work). I would just hope they really limit how much they use the system and also keep down those "weekly" tests that seem to come up every day on TV, radio, etc!

This isn't directly related, but Amber Alerts like that would be handy as well since it can alert people by the masses FAST which can hopefully get people on the road to notice a vehicle that may be suspect's. I know several carriers offer this now, but how many people subscribe it it, let alone know its available?
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AprilShowers77

Dec 11, 2006, 11:15 AM
I think the Amber Alert would be a great idea... and it would reach sooo many more people so much faster than the news or radio. I agree..how do I sign up?
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trevor83

Dec 11, 2006, 2:17 PM
AprilShowers77 said:
I think the Amber Alert would be a great idea... and it would reach sooo many more people so much faster than the news or radio. I agree..how do I sign up?


Verizon already works with the Amber Alert system. You can sign up for it on their website and the text message alerts are free.
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mcp555

Dec 11, 2006, 11:20 AM
Fairfax County in Virginia has an opt-in system for emergency alerts. It only sends out a message you when there is a severe weather alert, amber alert, or severe traffic problem (eg. Medevac/several car pileup). I haven't looked at the settings in a while but I know you can select from getting emailed and/or text-messaged to a list of contacts you specify.
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Roadkill

Dec 11, 2006, 12:51 PM
I don't like this idea. The old Emergency Broadcast Network worked because the messages were live - you could only get the message when it was relevant. Text messages sit on your phone until you read them, which means you may "receive" an emergency message that is no longer an emergency.

Also, co-opting broadcasts in order to deliver the old EBN alerts was a significant undertaking, which helped keep them under control. Do you have any idea how easy it is to send a cell broadcast? Next thing you know we could be receiving political ads via text message.

I'll be really pissed if they use this system for Amber alerts. It's one thing to co-opt the airwaves or send text messages if the recipient is (or might be) in danger. It's an en...
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trevor83

Dec 11, 2006, 2:22 PM
Roadkill said:
I don't like this idea. The old Emergency Broadcast Network worked because the messages were live - you could only get the message when it was relevant. Text messages sit on your phone until you read them, which means you may "receive" an emergency message that is no longer an emergency.

I'll be really pissed if they use this system for Amber alerts. It's one thing to co-opt the airwaves or send text messages if the recipient is (or might be) in danger. It's an entirely different can of worms if you start using the system for the benefit of individuals, regardless of age.


Well EBN is pretty useless is you're not home to view it on tv. Text messages get to you immediately.

And are ...
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Roadkill

Dec 11, 2006, 2:33 PM
You're missing the point, not that I expected any different.

EBN uses TV and radio. Yeah, it's useless if you're not watching TV or listening to the radio, but the same is true of using cell broadcast if you don't have your phone with you. Or charged. You and I would most likely receive them, but I can't count the number of friends and relatives I have who never seem to have their "mobile" phone with them, or who forget to charge it. So it's not a panacea.

And yes, I'm serious about the Amber alert thing. Amber alerts are for the benefit of an individual. The child. Or possibly the child's parent(s)/guardian. Doesn't change the fact that they're for the benefit of a single individual, whereas EBN is for the benefit of everyone ...
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Roadkill

Dec 11, 2006, 2:38 PM
BTW - wireless Amber alerts aren't a Verizon thing, they're a nationwide service availble on any carrier.

www.wirelessamberalerts.com

Thanks for mentioning them, though, because I had no idea that the service was available.
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SkillciaX

Dec 12, 2006, 5:55 PM
I think I agree with Trevor. The point of the Amber Alerts is so that everyone can help find a missing child because it's a righteous thing to help others.

And apparantly this country thinks that children our the future? So technically helping just one child who could possibly make a difference that may affect the entire country is benefiting everyone... Just because it doesn't directly affect you at the moment in time or at all, doesn't mean that it doesn't in-directly affect you.

And both of you are arguing dumb points about the alerts... like it doesn't matter if the alerts are on tv, cause u may not be, or it doesn't matter if you got a txt because you may forget your phone.

The truth of the matter is that more often than not pe...
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Roadkill

Dec 12, 2006, 7:41 PM
If it's "the right thing to do" then just sign up at www.wirelessamberalerts.org and be done with it.

You can't legislate morality. If someone isn't interested in receiving wireless Amber alerts, sending them the alert anyway isn't going to help and will just piss them off.

I wonder how many accidents would be caused by one of these being sent and thousands of people driving down the freeway suddenly start fumbling to find their cell phone to see the message they just received...

Wanna know the right thing to do? Keep spam off phones. That's the right thing to do.
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