Use SMS During Emergencies Urges Industry Body
As part of the USA's Wireless Safety Week, the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA) is reminding all Americans that text messaging can be a fast, efficient and reliable way to communicate in the event of an emergency. And, if more wireless users rely on text messaging in crisis situations, the people who need to make voice calls the most - emergency responders and 911 callers - can get through more easily.
"Everyone should have a plan for communicating in times of emergencies and text messaging can be an efficient way to reach your friends, family or loved ones. In the time it takes one person to make a one-minute voice call, hundreds of thousands of text messages can be exchanged," said Tom Wheeler, President and CEO of CTIA. "In these days of increased terrorist threats and heightened awareness, learning all the options on your wireless phone is an important piece of being prepared."
Text messages have also been used recently around the world to alert citizens in times of danger. In Kuwait, during the most recent conflict, Kuwaitis were warned about imminent attacks from Iraq by SMS. And, in Hong Kong, a wireless carrier announced a system to provide SARS updates via mobile phone. Users punch in a three-digit number and receive a text message indicating if they are near any buildings where SARS victims lived or worked. The information is obtained from a daily list released by the Health Department.
Immediately after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, many Internet ISPs and Web sites froze, wireless networks were overloaded and roads were clogged in the affected areas. In New York City, wireless phone traffic increased 1,300 percent over peak usage, and in Washington, D.C., traffic increased 400 percent. In New York City, during the peak hour of 11 a.m., about 95 percent of calls couldn't get through due to network congestion. Under similar circumstances, a text message would have a higher probability of reaching its intended destination.
Wireless Safety Week: The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA) and wireless carriers across the country have sponsored Wireless Safety Week since 1990, to focus attention on the important issue of public safety. Every day this week, CTIA is highlighting important aspects of safety with the theme "Wireless - Safety in Numbers." The wireless industry is joining together to remind everyone the important role wireless plays in both personal and public safety, to encourage the responsible use of wireless technology while driving, and to highlight "Wireless Samaritans" who have used their wireless phones to assist in emergency situations."
Posted to the site on 22nd May 2003
