4 ms·

Strangely enough, iPhones do have an ability to receive geographic-targeted alerts like this. I've seen them used for severe weather warnings. They look like t

by nwh 14y ago

Strangely enough, iPhones do have an ability to receive geographic-targeted alerts like this. I've seen them used for severe weather warnings. They look like this — http://i.imgur.com/gWrDXFD.jpg http://i.imgur.com/gWrDXFD.jpg

ConstantineXVI 14y ago
Most current (~2012) cellphones do in the US, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commercial_Mobile_Alert_System http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commercial_Mobile_Alert_System (I'm unclear on how these are delivered within the network, seems to be SMS but I can't source that)
- mrb 14y ago
  I was in Hawaii 2 weeks ago, and they were broadcasting these types of alerts to my girlfriend's phone (Android 4), to warn about a risk of flash floods. Android was even using text-to-speech to read the alert out loud, and automatically, which woke us up during the night!
  - ConstantineXVI 14y ago
    Think how exactly the alerts happen is up to the OEM, beyond 'loud noise'. The iPhone uses something similar to the EBS tone in 1s bursts (it was 1AM when mine fired, so I can't say with certainty if it was the same tone or not). I've heard similar from other Android users, but I've shut off the alerts on all my phones since.
- Maxious 14y ago
  It's SMS-CB with some magic numbers to activate the Text To Speech and alarms https://android.googlesource.com/platform/frameworks/opt/telephony/+/c38bb60d867c5d61d90b7179a9ed2b2d1848124f/src/java/android/telephony/SmsCbCmasInfo.java https://android.googlesource.com/platform/frameworks/opt/tel...
toomuchtodo 14y ago
All phones have the ability to get broadcast SMS messages based on the cell tower they're connected to. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_Broadcast http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_Broadcast
justin66 14y ago
I started getting them sometime within the last year. Weather warnings and amber alerts. I always assumed that I started getting these as a result of some change in the Android software, but maybe it was a change in policy somewhere?
fudged71 14y ago
Google Now also has emergency alerts
pc86 14y ago
I received an Amber Alert for a girl from Philadelphia a few months ago on this system (or a similar one). It was surreal being in a restaurant and hearing over a dozen phones go off almost simultaneously.
- steveklabnik 14y ago
  I received one in Pittsburgh for that alert for Philadelphia.
  - pc86 14y ago
    I think they got all of PA, MD, NJ and the DC area as it was close to 3 hours after the incident that they sent it out.
- jaredstenquist 14y ago
  I did not get an amber alert, and I am in Boston. Maybe due to the cell signal jamming to stop any additional detonations. I had to call family from Google Voice on my laptop to get in touch. Pretty crazy
  - EvanKelly 14y ago
    Just to clarify, Amber Alerts are a specific type of these emergency alerts and are used for missing children. I haven't heard about whether emergency SMS were sent out for the Boston bombings.

by nwh 14y ago

ConstantineXVI 14y ago

Most current (~2012) cellphones do in the US, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commercial_Mobile_Alert_System http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commercial_Mobile_Alert_System (I'm unclear on how these are delivered within the network, seems to be SMS but I can't source that)

mrb 14y ago
I was in Hawaii 2 weeks ago, and they were broadcasting these types of alerts to my girlfriend's phone (Android 4), to warn about a risk of flash floods. Android was even using text-to-speech to read the alert out loud, and automatically, which woke us up during the night!
- ConstantineXVI 14y ago
  Think how exactly the alerts happen is up to the OEM, beyond 'loud noise'. The iPhone uses something similar to the EBS tone in 1s bursts (it was 1AM when mine fired, so I can't say with certainty if it was the same tone or not). I've heard similar from other Android users, but I've shut off the alerts on all my phones since.
Maxious 14y ago
It's SMS-CB with some magic numbers to activate the Text To Speech and alarms https://android.googlesource.com/platform/frameworks/opt/telephony/+/c38bb60d867c5d61d90b7179a9ed2b2d1848124f/src/java/android/telephony/SmsCbCmasInfo.java https://android.googlesource.com/platform/frameworks/opt/tel...

toomuchtodo 14y ago

All phones have the ability to get broadcast SMS messages based on the cell tower they're connected to. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_Broadcast http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_Broadcast

justin66 14y ago

I started getting them sometime within the last year. Weather warnings and amber alerts. I always assumed that I started getting these as a result of some change in the Android software, but maybe it was a change in policy somewhere?

fudged71 14y ago

Google Now also has emergency alerts

pc86 14y ago

I received an Amber Alert for a girl from Philadelphia a few months ago on this system (or a similar one). It was surreal being in a restaurant and hearing over a dozen phones go off almost simultaneously.

steveklabnik 14y ago
I received one in Pittsburgh for that alert for Philadelphia.
- pc86 14y ago
  I think they got all of PA, MD, NJ and the DC area as it was close to 3 hours after the incident that they sent it out.
jaredstenquist 14y ago
I did not get an amber alert, and I am in Boston. Maybe due to the cell signal jamming to stop any additional detonations. I had to call family from Google Voice on my laptop to get in touch. Pretty crazy
- EvanKelly 14y ago
  Just to clarify, Amber Alerts are a specific type of these emergency alerts and are used for missing children. I haven't heard about whether emergency SMS were sent out for the Boston bombings.