T-Mobile Customers Can Get Wireless AMBER Alerts™ on their Wireless Device to Help Find Missing Children
When a child is abducted, studies show the first three hours are the most crucial to finding the missing child alive. In an effort to help recover missing children in those first critical hours, T-Mobile USA, Inc. today announced it is joining CTIA - The Wireless Association™ in partnering with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC) to offer Wireless AMBER Alerts™ to its customers.
T-Mobile customers can register to receive Wireless AMBER Alerts, as a text message on their wireless device, at www.wirelessamberalerts.org. When opting in, customers may designate up to five zip code locations where, if a child is abducted, they can be alerted on their wireless device. There is no T-Mobile charge for receiving Wireless AMBER Alerts and customers can opt-out at any time.
"With the introduction of Wireless AMBER Alerts, millions of Americans who may not see a road sign or hear a television or radio Alert will be able to receive an AMBER Alert on their wireless device," said Sue Swenson, COO for T-Mobile USA, Inc. "T-Mobile is proud to be a part of this important industry-wide initiative that will expand the speed and reach of AMBER Alerts to help law enforcement find abducted children."
Since the program began, AMBER Alerts have helped law enforcement recover and save more than 200 missing children. "We are pleased that we will be able to help our customers be an important part of child recovery efforts and assisting law enforcement," Swenson added.
"The Wireless AMBER Alerts initiative will advance the overall goal of the AMBER Alert program - to immediately notify as many people as possible about a recent child abduction," said Ernie Allen, president and CEO of NCMEC. "We are pleased that T-Mobile's customers will now be able to opt-in to receive AMBER Alerts so they can be active participants in the search for abducted children."
T-Mobile has a strong history of supporting and working with law enforcement and public safety. In partnership with the federal government, T-Mobile was the first wireless carrier to offer Wireless Priority Service, administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that allows key Executive Branch personnel and emergency first responders to have priority access to the T-Mobile network to transmit important calls during a crisis or emergency event.
T-Mobile, along with other wireless carriers, also recently partnered with DHS's Federal Emergency Management Agency on a pilot program called the Digital Emergency Alert System (EAS) to test what capabilities may be available to the federal government via commercial wireless networks to augment existing EAS capabilities.
T-Mobile continues to work closely with local and state public safety on the deployment of enhanced 911 (E911).
Please visit our web site at www.t-mobile.com for important information about our service. Please visit CTIA's web site for information about the Wireless AMBER Alerts service.
Lindsay Morio
T-Mobile USA Media Relations
425-383-4002
About T-Mobile USA, Inc.
Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile USA, Inc. is the U.S. wireless operation of Deutsche Telekom AG. By the end of the first quarter of 2010, approximately 150 million mobile customers were served by the mobile communication segments of the Deutsche Telekom group - 33.7 million by T-Mobile USA - all via a common technology platform based on GSM and UMTS, the world's most widely used digital wireless standards. T-Mobile USA's innovative wireless products and services help empower people to connect to those who matter most. Multiple independent research studies continue to rank T-Mobile among the highest in numerous regions throughout the U.S. in wireless customer care and call quality. For more information, please visit http://www.T-Mobile.com. T-Mobile is a federally registered trademark of Deutsche Telekom AG.
About The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
NCMEC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. NCMEC's congressionally mandated CyberTipline, a reporting mechanism for child sexual exploitation, has handled more than 313,000 leads. Since its establishment in 1984, NCMEC has assisted law enforcement with more than 106,000 missing child cases, resulting in the recovery of more than 92,000 children. For more information about NCMEC, call its toll-free, 24-hour hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST or visit www.missingkids.com.