The California Office of Emergency Services (OES) has designated Metrocall, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: MCLLQ) and Iris Wireless as providers of a free text messaging service called "Poweralert."
This service will notify California residents via any text-enabled pager, cell phone or PDA and e-mail address regardless of make, model, ISP or wireless carrier before rolling blackouts occur in their area. Iris Wireless -- a company that has developed the first U.S. cross-platform, short text messaging service -- and Metrocall -- one of the country's largest providers of wireless data and messaging services -- have teamed up to create the Poweralert service.
When California residents sign up by visiting www.irispoweralert.com, or by calling Metrocall at (800) 354-7243, they will receive OES announcements about rolling blackouts whether they are on-the-go with their mobile devices or at their computers. This cross-platform technology, designed to reach anyone on any mobile device, would not have been available had the power crisis emerged last summer, or even six months ago.
"Iris Wireless has the best technology to keep Californians informed about rolling blackouts regardless of their current mobile device or carrier," said Iris Wireless Chairman and CEO, Peter Rinfret. "We are delighted to introduce our technology and service at no charge to Californians during a time when wireless and Internet text messaging is especially relevant and critical."
"The power situation in California has created demand for real-time notification that can be delivered remotely," said William L. Collins III, Metrocall's chairman and CEO. "Metrocall's wireless networking capabilities and Iris' message delivery platform are well-positioned to deliver crucial information to residents throughout the state of California. Poweralert will empower residents to go about their usual business with peace of mind, knowing that they will be informed of imminent blackouts."
People who sign up for Poweralert will receive power announcements free through Labor Day. In addition to rolling blackout notification, subscribers will get periodic news updates on the power crisis in California and will have access to the full range of irisme SMS capabilities -- enabling them to send short text messages to other users regardless of communication devices and service carriers (pager to cellular phone, PDA to e-mail address, etc.). After Labor Day, users will have the option of signing up for the Poweralert service along with the full range of irisme SMS capabilities, or just the irisme SMS service.
Current Metrocall word messaging subscribers can receive Poweralert -or- new customers can obtain a specially packaged NEC VUE word pager complete with wireless service and Poweralert, by visiting the California OES Web site at http://www.edis.ca.gov/ and picking Metrocall or calling (800) 354-7243.
[ Home | Contact | MobiChat | Experts database | Let's do it ]
Comments to the content of this page can be posted on the MobiChat discussion group