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This article is part 2 in a series dispelling common myths and misconceptions about the Commercial Mobile Alert Service (CMAS)–also known as Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)–that we have heard from the public, public safety practitioners, the wireless communications industry, and local, state, and Federal officials. In a previous post, we discussed concerns about tracking chips (there aren’t any), demands on cell networks (CMAS messages won’t be impacted), charges for CMAS messages (there’s no charge), and more. This article tackles another set of common myths we have heard about CMAS. Continue reading »
Last week, Verizon Wireless conducted a large-scale test of the Commercial Mobile Alert Service (CMAS, also known as Wireless Emergency Alerts, or WEA). As we approach the deployment of CMAS in April 2012, more testing of this system is likely to occur. Customers should understand that any CMAS messages they receive are only a test. However, mobile customers will surely be looking for additional information on CMAS if and when they receive a message.
If you do receive a message and would like to learn more, we recommend first contacting your wireless carrier’s customer service line. The carriers will have the most accurate information about testing, and the customer service representatives are likely trained in responding to these questions. Continue reading »
Given New York City’s status as the first in the U.S. to test (and soon deploy) CMAS, we wondered if the big four carriers’ local retail stores were ready tell customers about CMAS. To find out, we armed ourselves with CMAS/Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) information printed from each of the carrier’s own websites and visited two Upper East Side retail stores for AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon this week for part one of our CMAS Secret Shopper Series.
The overall conclusion: there’s a general lack of awareness about CMAS in the carriers’ retail locations.
Continue reading »
As you probably know, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) kicks off today in Las Vegas. Each year CES is one of the most anticipated expos in the tech world, exhibiting all kinds of new gadgets that shape the market over the coming year. It also usually features noteworthy innovations relevant to the world of alerts and warnings. This year is no different. Continue reading »
Today Sprint publicly announced the launch of a new functionality for its network: Wireless Emergency Alerts, which is the term many wireless carriers are using for the Commercial Mobile Alert Service (CMAS) / Personal Localized Alerting Network (PLAN). The announcement comes as FEMA prepares for the nationwide deployment of CMAS in April 2012. Sprint describes the WEA/CMAS capability as follows:
Wireless Emergency Alerts allow the Federal Emergency Management Agency (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. Continue reading »
