Anyone have any knowledge about CMAS?

[Trocks797]

Well it appears the major carriers are all on board with this new national alert system. I am sure you have all read about it, but in case you missed it:

The system, called Wireless Emergency Alert system, will allow the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to deliver warning messages to wireless networks from the president of the United States, the weather service and state and local emergency operations centers. The system also supports AMBER alerts for missing children.

This is certainly welcome, at least in my eyes, as long as it is not abused. You can opt out of every alert, save for alerts from the President, and the alerts will be location based. Even though I live in Louisville, I would be alerted of a tornado in Oklahoma City if that is where I am when the tornado hits. Very cool.

But what I am more curious about is the technology behind it. This is not a text message-based system. This doesn't even appear to have anything to do with data at all, besides the fact that your phone obviously must have some type of connection to receive the alert.

Fierce is reporting the system is called CMAS:

Customers will receive the warnings when their phones are enabled with special chipsets and software and the warnings are sent based upon geolocation. The system is based on a series of protocols called the Commercial Mobile Alert System, or CMAS, which will provide an interface to participating carriers for delivery of critical alert information to mobile phones.

If your phone supports the service, you will receive alerts. Moreover, these alerts will force your phone to make certain noises so they get your attention. So does anyone know how CMAS works? What are the "special chipsets and software" that make this system possible?

Sprint, Verizon and T-Mobile now offer the service nationwide. AT&T currently offers it only in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Portland, Ore., but a spokesman told the AP that more markets will be added over time.

Why is AT&T only offering this service in certain areas? This makes me think the system is more network-integrated and specific than I thought. Thanks for any info!

PS: Is the HoFo post creator messing up for anyone else on Chrome?

[TWX]

I did some searching and it seems that the government is using a type of "Cell Broadcast" gateway. There is little info out there on it, but I found a company that is probably behind most of the network-related stuff here -> http://www.cellcastcorp.com/emergency.aspx

Quote from the website: "Issue Emergency Alerts and Mass Notifications:
CellCast Technology’s proprietary Cell Broadcast Aggregator Gateway™ broker enables a government or other authorized entity to use the cell broadcast function built into most cell phones to securely and rapidly transmit an emergency alert of natural or manmade disasters to cell phones in an affected area - - regardless of the size of the area and of the subscriber’s carrier. No database of cell phone subscribers is necessary. Examples of mass notification messages are traffic alerts, industry alerts, timely tourism information, school closings, event schedule changes, and more. "

I do find it odd that AT&T is only in three cities in the country, while Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile all have it nationwide already. That is just sad.

[johnhere]

I think its a good thing but I wonder how reliable it will be.

I know this is different but Ive actually set my phones up for daily alerts from the weather channel for storm warnings and weather forecasts but the text almost never come through. I've tried them with both AT&T and vz but the alerts have been hit or miss.