NEW YORK (BUSINESS WIRE), December 15, 2011 -
Exactly one month after becoming the first
U.S. carrier to launch Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) on its mobile
network, Sprint
(NYSE: S) continues to strive for reliable communication services during
crisis situations by participating in the
nation’s first test of the WEA system in New York City.
Taking place today, the WEA test will deliver a series of six different
geo-targeted wireless alerts to multiple Sprint mobile phones
strategically located in Brooklyn, The Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and
Staten Island.
The test will be conducted in conjunction with the New York City Office
of Emergency Management (OEM), the Department of Homeland Security’s
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Science and Technology
Directorate (S&T) and the Federal Communications Commission and other
wireless providers.
Wireless Emergency Alerts allow FEMA to accept and deliver warning
messages to wireless networks from the president of the United States,
the National Weather Service and state and local emergency operations
centers. Sprint customers will be able to effectively and accurately
receive warnings and safety information via text alerts to mobile phones
that are equipped with the enabling software and based on their
geographic location.
The availability of Wireless Emergency Alerts on Sprint’s network is the
result of the Commercial
Mobile Alert System (CMAS) – a national program established by the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to the Warning,
Alert and Response Act passed by Congress in 2006.
During the next year, Sprint will continue working with FEMA, DHS, the
FCC, and numerous state and local emergency agencies to successfully
make the alerts available nationwide.
Using wireless emergency alerts on the Sprint network
Sprint’s customers can currently access wireless emergency alerts on the
following devices:
HTC
EVO Design 4GTM, HTC
EVO 3D™, Kyocera
BrioTM, Kyocera
Duracore, Kyocera
DuraMax, Kyocera
MilanoTM, LG
Marquee™, Samsung
Galaxy S™ II, Epic™ 4G Touch, Samsung
Trender™, Samsung
Transform UltraTM, Sanyo
Innuendo™ by Kyocera and Sanyo
Vero™ by Kyocera. Starting in 2012, all new Sprint mobile phones
will be equipped with the software necessary to receive wireless
emergency alerts.
The 90-character messages will be delivered at no charge to the customer
and have a distinctive vibration cadence and audio tone similar to what
is heard for emergency alerts on broadcast television and radio.
Additionally, notification of a wireless emergency alert will be
distinguished in the handset’s messaging inbox with a distinctive icon.
On devices that are capable of receiving the alerts, Sprint customers
can activate the service by dialing ##CMAS# or ##2627#, and choosing to
“enable the CMAS client” when prompted.
The wireless emergency alerts will be available in three categories –
Presidential Alerts, Imminent Threats to Life and Property, and AMBER
Alerts – and provide mobile users an additional tool for learning of
impending danger in relation to their current location. Wireless users
can opt out of all message types with the exception of presidential
alerts.
Some potential examples of these alerts include:
-
An emergency message could be targeted to cell phones at a stadium
event, informing attendees of where to go or what direction to drive
following a nearby highway accident or chemical spill. -
Emergency information related to wildfires, mudslides, floods,
tornadoes and hurricanes could be targeted to residents in specific
neighborhoods or along routes where the danger is greatest. -
Students and faculty across a campus could be quickly informed when
lockdown conditions are necessary because of a threat. -
If a suspicious package were reported in an airport, shopping mall or
office complex, thousands could receive messages to move to a certain
area until the threat was removed. -
Potential witnesses can learn of recently missing or abducted children
in their immediate area.
Visit Sprint’s
online community site or FEMA.gov
to learn more about Wireless Emergency Alerts and the CMAS program.
About Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline
communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers,
businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 53
million customers at the end of 3Q 2011 and is widely recognized for
developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including
the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United
States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid
brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance
Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities;
and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The 2011 American Customer
Satisfaction Index showed Sprint is the #1 most improved company in
customer satisfaction, across all industries, over the last three years. Newsweek
ranked Sprint No. 3 in its 2011 Green Rankings, listing it as one of
the nation’s greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications
company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com
or www.facebook.com/sprint
and www.twitter.com/sprint.