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Playing Politics: Why Carriers Pony Up Millions
Apr 12th
When it's time for U.S. voters to elect new representatives, the mobile phone industry is willing to spend millions to lock in candidates who will represent their best interests.
How Much Does a Voice in D.C. Cost?
A review of past election cycle donations at OpenSecrets.org shows an uptick in political contributions to candidates whose views are in sync with the mobile industry, which isn't surprising considering the increasing amount of federal rules and regulations that affect these companies. As the industry comes under further regulation, carriers and phone makers are spending in the millions to ensure they have a voice among lawmakers.
Contributions from political action committees, or PACs, coming from the telecom and mobile sector already total nearly $1.3 million for the 2012 election cycle, with companies like T-Mobile, Sprint, Motorola and Qualcomm ranking as top donors. From a partisan view, donations are split fairly evenly between candidates, with 47 percent of funds going towards Democrats and 54 percent towards Republicans.
Contributions from telephone utilities -- a category that includes AT&T and Verizon -- are at a heftier $3.1 million and lean toward the right, with 61 percent of donating going towards Republican candidates.
More Regulation, More Millions Spent
A growth in campaign contributions over the last decade can be linked to increasing federal scrutiny on the industry's operations. State and federal governments draft bills on topics central to mobile use like data privacy and GPS tracking.
Often the issues are local, like a San Francisco law on cell radiation that was ultimately delayed, but donations to local representatives secure communication between public and private sectors. As such issues come up for debate, companies will want to ensure strong ties to the lawmakers so they have a leg up on what could immediately affect their best interests.
Political ties and the access they offer are central to having a voice in future issues. For example, it helps a company to have a politician on its side when infrastructure issues come up in local communities. And in the coming years, spectrum allocation is sure to turn into a debate where carriers will want their voices in the conversation.
But the efforts to lock in lawmakers may not translate into help with regulators, especially as companies merge and the government cautiously assesses whether mergers are in the best interests of the market.
One such case is the failed AT&T and T-Mobile merger, especially given the former's millions of dollars in candidate support. AT&T eventually withdrew its bid after a Federal Communications Commission report found the deal would harm competition and the job market, assessments made by appointed commissions rather than elected officials. And while the deal was under speculation, the FCC faced pressure from heads of other rival carriers like Sprint weighing in during Senate hearings, offsetting AT&T's influence.
The Influence of PACs in 2012
If past totals are any indication, contributions could easily skyrocket in the run-up to the November elections. In 2010, the election season contributions from utilities topped $6.1 million, and those from the telecom sector totaled $2.6 million.
This year's contributions could easily exceed past levels. Companies organize PACs to collect donations from their employees, spouses and supporters, which can then be donated to campaigns. Coming together in a PAC allows for higher maximum donations, $5,000 per person, and $5,000 contributions to a candidate committee per election, or $15,000 to a national party committee.
The system allows companies to amass thousands of dollars to shore up specific candidates and parties, adding up to millions of dollars in campaign contributions. Typically, the smaller telecom companies generally hovered in the $2-3 million range since 2000 per election cycle.
Utility company PAC donations hit a 14-year-high at $6.1 million in 2010. A whopping 73 percent of those donations came from AT&T and Verizon, contributing $3.2 million and $1.2 million, respectively, with an additional 20 companies and industry associations making up the rest.
AT&T is the largest donor in the telecommunications industry year after year, and one of the most active overall, with its PAC spending $4.9 million in the 2010 election cycle, proving how the tech industry is beginning to overtake traditional influences like labor and the financial sectors.
Despite the variable results, tech companies continue to sign checks and hand them over to candidates. It's practically tradition; playing the campaign finance game has long been a way for American businesses to wield influence in Washington.
As the telecom sector continues to develop into a leading industry, and laws catch up to modern communication methods, companies succeeding in the mobile market are sure to make their presence strongly felt.
Playing Politics: Why Carriers Pony Up Millions originally appeared at Mobiledia on Thu Apr 12, 2012 10:49 am.
Open-Source Cars: Why a Customized Drive Won’t Be Coming to You
Apr 12th
The Tumanako project, open-source code for electric cars, is appealing to racing enthusiasts, but the do-it-yourself initiative won't be coming to a dealer near you.
Tumanako's project would make EV code free for anyone to use and improve upon, creating an automotive equal to Linux desktop and mobile software. By opening up code for a drive package and inverter for a 200 kilowatt induction motor, EV drivers would have the necessary software to customize their vehicles.
By opening up code to components of EVs, riders could adjust performance aspects like torque and speed, as well as create and customize personalized driving apps.
Philip Court, head of Tumanako, reasons, "People who are into electric vehicles like to be able to tweak them to make them faster and to be able to fix them themselves."
Court, also the director of the New Zealand-based EV racing company Greenstage, acknowledges Tumanako remains "a bit of a niche market" for now, but he suggests the project may have applications outside of the racing scene as well.
"If you've got a high-powered electric vehicle and your son's recently learned to drive and he wants to take his girlfriend to dinner," Court said, "You wouldn't leave it on the high-powered mode."
Court's vision of open sourced EV code is poised to excite car enthusiasts who want to push racing limits or customize cars. But while an innovative move for an enthusiastic slice of electric car drivers, it won't convince major automakers to open their proprietary code and intellectual property rights.
Toyota's Prius has sold nearly three million units as of February this year, making it the most popular EV worldwide. The Japanese company is also investing in concept technology, like touchscreen doors and windows, that it may use in future Prius iterations.
The BMW i3, an EV expected to hit the market in 2013, is expected to rival the Prius with its zero emissions promise and sleek urban design. BMW has poured money into this vehicle since 2011, making it extremely unlikely that the automaker would ever open source its code.
Volvo too has long been testing the EV C30, with plans for production later this year. When the C30 debuts, it will compete against others like Nissan's Leaf and the Ford Focus Electric, as the EV market expands to command a large chunk of the auto market.
Given the race among major car companies to build workable EVs, the future of open source EV code, while an interesting novelty, will likely be relegated to hobbyists and small-scale operations.
Open-Source Cars: Why a Customized Drive Won't Be Coming to You originally appeared at Mobiledia on Thu Apr 12, 2012 10:14 am.
Daily Roundup: April 11, 2012
Apr 11th
Apple isn't paying enough taxes, U.K. officials claim, while Nokia says it isn't making enough money.
Meanwhile, Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, will be featured in a TV movie; T-Mobile plans to unveil its version of the HTC One S; and Verizon plans to start charging a upgrade fee.
U.K. Says Apple Doesn't Pay Enough Taxes
U.K. officials complain Apple isn't paying its fair share of corporate taxes, despite earning billions of dollars in the country last year.
Apple runs a significant part of its business from its operations in Ireland, which charges just half the taxes that would be charged if the company were located elsewhere in the U.K. Apple also has an offshoot in the British Virgin Islands, another tax haven for companies operating in the U.K.
Meanwhile, revenues from the U.K. accounted for about 10 percent of Apple's worldwide sales, and U.K. officials say the Cupertino, Calif.-company's tax burden should be higher.
Nokia Warns Losses Are Looming
Nokia warned its mobile phone business will be featured in an upcoming film that focuses on the WikiLeaks founder's early forays into Internet hacking.
Emmy Award winner Anthony LaPaglia will play a detective tracking Assange, and Rachel Griffiths will play Assange's activist mother. Assange will be played by film newsomer Alex Williams in the made-for-TV movie, "Underground."
The movie will follow the story of an Assange-led group of young hackers who broke into a number of organizations in the 1980s. Assange was a teenager when the Melbourne, Australia-based group began operations.
Verizon Will Charge Upgrade Fee
Verizon will start charging a $30 upgrade fee whenever an existing customer extends their contract in order to snag some new hardware.
The new fee, which begins April 22, will help the company "continue to provide customers with the level of service and support they have come to expect."
AT&T enacted a similar fee earlier this year, doubling it from $18 to $36. T-Mobile's upgrade fee remains at $18, but may also rise in the future.
T-Mobile Plans HTC One S Launch Party
T-Mobile is planning a launch event for its version of the HTC One S on April 18.
The new device will operate on Android Ice Cream Sandwich and likely will have the dual-core Qualcomm S4 CPU as its Sprint counterpart. The T-Mobile press event will also feature the Detroit indie-pop band Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Daily Roundup: April 11, 2012 originally appeared at Mobiledia on Wed Apr 11, 2012 3:49 pm.
Texting Man Walks Into Bear
Apr 11th
A California man, texting on his phone, ran into a 500-pound black bear on his walk to work.
Distracted texting accidents are all over the news, but in this case, Vaz Terdandenyan managed to look up from his message before he became lunch meat for the wayward bear. A news team caught the whole encounter on camera.
"I got up this morning from helicopter noise and I was trying to see what was going on," said Terdandenyan, to KTLA 5, the local news station. "I was texting my boss that I would be late for work because something is going on, and I'm coming down the stairs and I see the bear coming up the stairs toward me."
If anyone needed another reason to keep their eyes off their iPhones while on the go, this is it. But for those who need more convincing, consider that texting while walking is becoming a traffic offense in many areas. Philadelphia-area pedestrians can get hit with fines for texting while walking, and New York lawmakers proposed similar restrictions last summer. Other cities are likely to at least consider related measures, and after this incident, perhaps officials from La Crescenta will mull over comparable proposals.
This onslaught of legislation focused on curbing distracted walking and biking shows constant smartphone use can put people in danger by drowning out their surroundings. Even in safe places, like the mall, users can find themselves bumbling due to inattentive walking, like the woman who made headlines after falling into a fountain while she sent a text.
Pedestrians also need to stay alert to dodge multi-tasking drivers, like the car thief foiled by his desire to eat a croissant and text while making his getaway. He didn't hit anyone, but he easily could have sideswiped someone focused on Angry Birds.
Terdandenyan noticed the bear after a moment, but he might not have escaped if he had been blasting music or engrossed in a "Words With Friends" battle.
The run-in with the bear is not the first for area residents. Others in the Glendale neighborhood reported other sightings and incidents with the animal, including one in which the bear broke into a home and ate meatballs from its refrigerator.
Officials eventually tranquilized the bear and safely transported him to a location in the Angeles National Forest.
Texting while walking is less dangerous than texting while driving, which is a growing problem, but as this case demonstrates, it is always a good idea to keep aware of your surroundings.
Texting Man Walks Into Bear originally appeared at Mobiledia on Wed Apr 11, 2012 3:21 pm.
Checking Facebook at Work Isn’t a Crime, Court Says
Apr 11th
Checking Facebook at work isn't a federal crime, according to a federal ruling in a case that tested employees' rights to surf the Internet, and servers, at work.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit rejected a Justice Department's argument based on the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, and its interpretation provides protection to employees for browsing sites like Facebook.
The judges ruled punishing employees under the act, intended for use against hackers, subjects workers to potential prosecution for surfing the Internet at work, and rejected the DoJ's broad interpretation of the law.
Other district courts have come down in favor of the law in similar cases, causing discrepancy in the legal world over interpretation. But in this case, the nine out of 11 justices who rejected the argument pointed towards the concept that millions of Americans would be committing a federal crime simply by surfing the Internet if they weren't supposed to.
"Minds have wandered since the beginning of time and the computer gives employees new ways to procrastinate, by gchatting with friends, playing games, shopping or watching sports highlights," wrote Judge Alex Kozinski in the majority opinion. "Such activities are routinely prohibited by many computer-use policies, although employees are seldom disciplined for occasional use of work computers for personal purposes."
The judge went on to say "such minor dalliances" would become federal crimes under a broad interpretation of the act, and the precedent could be used as a company threat against employees it's trying to force out.
The tendency to stay plugged in lays ground for addictive habits, and the convenience is often at odds with productivity, leaving some companies no choice but to ban the behavior. But it's up to the bosses, as some workers, like those in media, web development or marketing, reap the benefits of being online in the form of new inspiration, clients or information.
Since more laws are coming out to regulate online activity, the courts are likely to step in and decide how broadly the rules apply. In this case, the most recent decision undermines past precedents, and reiterates how the act was created to penalize hackers while leaving the ability to prosecute someone for getting access into a computer they don't have a right to.
Court-watchers expect this mixed bag of rulings could lead to a Supreme Court case as online regulations become a more pressing issue, and more employees and employers contest existing laws.
Violating a company policy is a very different thing than violating federal law, but courts decisions produce uneven interpretations about authorized access violations. Keeping people from being online is a difficult, if not impossible, task, and laws will have to show people's needs, wants and lifestyles or risk becoming too controversial, to enforce.
Checking Facebook at Work Isn't a Crime, Court Says originally appeared at Mobiledia on Wed Apr 11, 2012 2:40 pm.
Why Google+’s Redesign Doesn’t Matter
Apr 11th
Google+ gave itself an extensive makeover, but no matter how good it gets, the site is unlikely to catch up to rival Facebook.
Google unveiled the user interface redesign, boasting improved navigation with a customizable app bar, increased photo and video storage capabilities and an updated video calling system.
The Google+ redesign is clutter-free and easy to use for the social networking site's 170 million members. The problem? Most of these members use Facebook as their primary social networking site, and this is unlikely to change, barring a huge hiccup in Facebook's popularity.
Google went above and beyond with its remodeling project, and Google+ flaunt some features obviously superior to Facebook -- the multi-camera "Hangout" calling system, for instance -- yet the revamped Google project probably won't surpass Mark Zuckerberg's site anytime soon, for a couple of reasons.
First, Facebook is too deeply entrenched in too many people's day-to-day lives. The heated controversy surrounding employers asking for Facebook passwords to vet their employee's online footprints is proof enough of how deeply Facebook is a part of everyday life. Employers see Facebook as a window into people's lives, while there are no cases on record of employers even acknowledging that Google+ exists.
The social network isn't exactly resting on its laurels, either -- the company just purchased Instagram, and launched its own aesthetic upgrade with Timeline. Perhaps if Google+ had invested its energy into buying an explosively popular up-and-comer like Pinterest, it could stand a chance, but Pinterest surpassed Google+ in popularity, so that opportunity is a long shot.
Facebook is under fire for some of its privacy practices, and if public opinion turns against the site, it could leave an opening for Google+ to wedge its way into competition. However, Google is facing even heavier privacy policy criticism, so people have little reason to turn to Google if they object to privacy violations. Also, teens fed up with their lack of privacy on Facebook are already leaning on another social networking site, and it is Twitter, not Google+.
Google+'s redesign has lots of distinctive and high-quality features to make a lot of people happy and enhance the social networking experience, and might have made a splash if Mark Zuckerberg had decided to take up competitive Sudoku instead of building Facebook. As it stands, though Google's updates improve its social networking site, it will take a lot more than that to lure users away from Facebook's siren song.
Why Google+'s Redesign Doesn't Matter originally appeared at Mobiledia on Wed Apr 11, 2012 1:57 pm.
Has Apple Finally Met Its Match?
Apr 11th
Apple's next legal battle will be against the U.S. Department of Justice, after negotiations on e-book price-fixing allegations failed.
The DoJ filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple and two publishers over allegations of price-fixing and collusion, both serious anti-competitive business behaviors. The allegations focus on what's called the "agency model" of pricing for e-books on iPads. The arrangement let publishers set the price, with Apple taking a 30 percent share, a move that undercut Amazon's wholesale pricing model and raised prices overall for consumers.
The parties engaged in settlement talks for some time, but sources close to the matter say Apple and several publishers could not reach an agreement. The DoJ is confident it has real evidence of antitrust violations, shaping the case as a showdown where Apple refuses to back down.
In the past, the DoJ has proved a formidable opponent against several major tech companies. It embroiled tech giants IBM and Microsoft in years of major litigation that had far-reaching implications on several levels, imposing major changes in their business practices that affected their bottom lines and competitive standing. With this lawsuit, Apple faces an opponent that rarely loses, as well as one whose investigations tend to expand in scope.
Apple isn't one to settle in many of its legal battles, but opening itself up to a battle with the feds indicates the California company likely has some tricks up its sleeve. As part of its high-stakes legal strategy, Apple may defend its agreement as a vehicle for increased competition, compared to Amazon's pricing model. Apple's share in the e-books market is relatively limited in comparison to Amazon's, and it could argue agency model pricing helps it compete against the e-retailer.
For publishers, upholding the agency model lets them control the pricing in an industry that's poised to change their entire profit model as print revenue dwindles in favor of digital.
In addition to Apple, the New York district court filing names publishers Macmillan and Penguin in the lawsuit. The publishers entered into the agency model pricing structure with Apple when it released the first iPad, essentially barring other e-book sellers like Amazon from selling at a lower price. Hachette, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster, who also embarked on the original agreement with Apple, have settled with the DoJ.
With settlement talks scuttled, the DoJ is taking legal action, proving the government doesn't intend to let industry players dominate the e-book market with alliances. The outcome of this antitrust case could drive e-book pricing down across the market if the regulator declare the pricing arrangements flawed, or if Apple's e-book sales are on hold as a result, marking a potential win for consumer advocates.
The regulator has looked into antitrust allegations over mergers and market actions, but this is a major development for the e-book industry. As new markets, companies and models emerge, regulators are keeping a close eye on developments for potential violations of free competition laws and ethics.
Tech companies and the DoJ are often slow to settle, as illustrated in the antitrust lawsuit against AT&T, which coincided with the FCC approval process for the T-Mobile acquisition. A similar inquiry into Google and Motorola's merger didn't yield a lawsuit, but it took some time to investigate potential antitrust violations.
The Apple e-book lawsuit indicates the government feels this issue is worthy enough to take a stand, and could set an industry precedent on whether it can handle such arrangements for pricing deals, or whether regulators have to intervene. If the court deems the deal is an antitrust violation, the agency model could be barred from use, driving prices down for consumers and leveling the pricing playing field as the industry grows.
Apple is going to have to try to prove these deals didn't harm free competition on the courtroom floor in front of a judge, and the case will likely take a long time to resolve as the parties call witnesses and exhaust arguments. But the stakes are high when the result will set the stage for market behavior in years to come, a crucial development at a time when American reading is shifting from the printed page to the small screen.
Has Apple Finally Met Its Match? originally appeared at Mobiledia on Wed Apr 11, 2012 12:59 pm.
Nokia Pins Hopes on NFC After Lumia Stumble
Apr 11th
Nokia announced an NFC-enabled Lumia phone to diminish setbacks its highly anticipated Lumia 900 suffered, pinning its hopes on mobile payment technology to carve out a slice of the market.
The Lumia 900 debuted on Easter Sunday, an inopportune day for in-store sales as most AT&T locations closed for the holiday, and this week Nokia discovered a glitch in its software damaging data connectivity. The Finnish phone maker came up with a swift solution to the problem, offering updates to fix the bug, and set up an agreement with AT&T to offer $100 rebates to anyone who purchased the phone before April 21, making the $100 handset essentially free.
Nokia is managing damage control on its current market offering, but it aims to regain luster by unveiling the Lumia 610, an NFC-enabled Windows phone previewed at the Mobile World Congress, arriving on the scene just in time to divert attention from the earlier phone's missteps. Nokia announced plans to sell the phone in Europe by the second quarter this year, suggesting the company will also soon gear up for a U.S. release.
Nokia's foray into NFC technology could boost the company back into the limelight. Competition is heating up in the mobile payment field, with NFC-based coalitions like Isis preparing to launch into rivalry with other popular payment systems like Square and PayPal. Isis is gaining traction with merchant partners, and as its popularity grows, the appeal of handsets like the Lumia 610 will also increase.
"We're bringing NFC right across our portfolio," Nokia smartphone marketing chief Ilari Nurmi said in a statement, suggesting the company plans on more NFC-enabled models in the future to jump on the mobile payment momentum.
Nokia worked with Microsoft and AT&T to build anticipation for its Lumia 900 phone, a low-cost, high-quality model enjoying brisk sales in Europe. Despite the subsidized cost, the Lumia 900's problems may deter customers from picking it up, tarnishing Nokia and Microsoft's plans to launch comebacks based on the handset.
Nokia got off to a bumpy start with its comeback attempt featuring the Lumia 900, but if the company does a better job releasing the Lumia 610, and NFC technology takes off in the U.S., it could overcome the early stumbles. Nokia still aims to regain its once-dominant position in the smartphone market, but it may ride on the merits of is second release, the 610, rather than unevenly launched 900.
Nokia Pins Hopes on NFC After Lumia Stumble originally appeared at Mobiledia on Wed Apr 11, 2012 12:20 pm.
Canada to Dump Cash for Digital Currency
Apr 11th
Canada is considering a digital currency, suggesting a cash-free future may start sooner than expected.
The Royal Canadian Mint announced the completely digital currency, MintChip, a physical chip without a centralized database. It is similar to smartcards used by many cities on a smaller scale to use public transportation and make purchases. The MintChip transfers values between the physical chips using encrypted "value messages." The chip is small enough to tuck in a wallet or pocket, and like regular cash, if someone loses the chip, they lose the currency.
"Money, as we know it, is fine for today, but tomorrow is a different story," said MintChip's promotional video, heralding the end of cash currencies.
"The emerging digital economy must be able to accommodate small-value transactions, such as micro transactions (under $10) and nano-transactions (under $1)," said the Mint, emphasizing how the currency will work with smaller purchases like song downloads, subway fare or grabbing a hot dog.
Canada's cash and debit card systems are sometimes called outdated, but now the Royal Mint is taking an unprecedented leap into a new kind of currency. Canadians may be more receptive to this experiment than most, as they are early adopters of mobile payment systems, especially NFC and PayPal. Half of Canadians also reported they would not mind never carrying cash again, setting the stage for this change.
MintChip operates similarly to BitCoin, another electronic cash system. BitCoin gained popularity for being decentralized and controlled by the user community rather than a government, but its values fluctuate significantly and the system is vulnerable to hacker attacks. The Royal Canadian Mint insists its own system will be more secure, and is sponsoring a contest to develop cutting-edge software for MintChip.
MintChip is still in development, and citizens may be reluctant to abandon cash in favor of something with the potential to be hacked or fluctuate in value, so countries like Canada are likely to exercise caution on the path to digital currency.
Canada to Dump Cash for Digital Currency originally appeared at Mobiledia on Wed Apr 11, 2012 10:48 am.
ITTO: Siren? What Siren? Emergency Alerts Coming to Smartphones
Apr 11th
The day when smartphones alert people to emergencies is not far off, as government agencies, social media and industry innovations combine to revamp national notification systems.
Is This Thing On?, or ITTO, is our Wednesday column showing how everyday people use technology in unexpected ways.
Alerting people of timely news can save lives. Whether it is to warn them of impending weather events or to generate awareness of possible medical outbreaks, the ability to communicate one-to-many in a state of emergency has improved with mobile devices, sparking greater use of the technology.
Social Media and Text Messages: A Dual Approach
Two out of three adults connect to one or more social media platforms, using that connection to do more than socialize. Many "like" their children's schools, weather organizations, a neighborhood watch and news organizations so they learn of breaking news or specific information that affects them.
Large organizations are also turning to Facebook and Twitter to get their message out quickly and efficiently in times of crisis. The devastating tornadoes in Dallas underscored the usefulness of social media to tell people of emergency situations and connect them to services. Twitter broadcast warnings and safety tips, so those in the tornado's path were given precious minutes to take cover, reducing loss of life.
In addition, people went to Facebook's Red Cross page and others, which assisted with services in the immediate aftermath when traditional communication channels were disabled.
Social media's response in Dallas echoes previous efforts pioneered during last spring's violent tornadoes in Joplin, Mo., which were refined last fall ahead of Hurricane Irene.
The social network also debuted its "I'm Safe" button last month, which works with other services like message boards to share information about care centers, medical resources and remediation efforts.
Great Expectations Could Be Hard to Fulfill
Trevor Riggen, American Red Cross director of mass care, underscores the value of social media in emergency response. The survey by the organization found 80 percent of the general population believe national emergency response organizations should regularly monitor social media sites to respond promptly.
The survey also pointed out nearly a quarter of the general population reported using social media to let loved ones know they are safe, and more than a third expect requested help to arrive in less than one hour.
The public's expectation, however, may be hard for organizations to meet. Riggen admitted it is not yet possible for the Red Cross to respond as quickly to social media requests as people expect. He said while the agency uses a variety of platforms, it's an "enormous challenge" to monitor the volume of social media traffic, pointing to some sticking points with the promising technology.
This drawback likely prompted the Department of Health and Human Services to explore how other technology can help people in emergency situations. Specifically, the agency is developing a text message service that local authorities can broadcast to inform people during emergencies.
The advantage of text messaging over social networks is that nearly everyone has a cell phone, giving them access to information if they have trouble reaching a Web page. Also, people often think to send a text message to immediate family before considering a wider posting on Facebook, elements the federal government will need to consider as it moves forward with plans of its own.
A Federal PLAN
The Federal Communications Commission announced last year it is developing a Personal Localized Alerting Network, or PLAN, in partnership with Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Spring, to roll out in test areas before launching nationwide.
The FCC says the system will send texts from the President, alarms for natural disasters and even messages about missing children to specially chipped smartphones across the country.
"This is the ability to have your mobile device be an emergency alert device. Government officials can send alerts in the event of major disasters, can do it on a localized basis, and can make sure that the alerts get through even if there's network congestion," said FCC chairman Julius Genachowski.
The program highlights the growing understanding that more people rely on mobile phones, with their portability and connectivity, making the devices invaluable and more affordable not only for personal use, but also for public communication.
FDA Explores Mobile Apps
Other federal agencies are finding unique applications for text-based emergency response. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration realized the need for a mobile response during the 2009 H1N1 "swine flu" outbreak and is developing an alerts app to communicate vital drug reaction information during public health crises.
The agency approved the use of the experimental drug Peramavir during the outbreak, but the only way health workers could report adverse reactions to the drug and receive urgent communications from the FDA was through a slow and inefficient desktop-computer based system.
As a result, more than ten percent of adverse drug reactions went unreported, according to the agency. The FDA launched several apps at that time to keep the public and healthcare providers informed about H1N1, but there was no single, reliable source people could count on for information.
The program, named Real-Time Application for Portable Interactive Devices, or RAPID, is developing a prototype that features video and photographic capabilities to record and circulate videos and pictures of drug reactions, as well as audio recordings of a patient's medical history. RAPID will also allow health care workers to view medical images, such as x-rays and EKGs, and include GPS functionality to track adverse drug reactions and determine possible patterns.
The FDA's mobile alert system will help the agency coordinate with other governmental agencies using mobile devices to communicate with emergency personnel and the public.
The Industry Pushes Forward
The tech industry is also developing its own initiatives to respond to disasters quickly and effectively. Search giant Google is launching a new Public Alerts page to keep Google Maps users abreast of natural disasters or other emergencies, mapping what is going on, how severe officials expect the emergency to become and what resources can help, which could be especially valuable to those far from home and unfamiliar with the area.
Google is integrating feeds from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Weather Service, and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) into Google Maps to offer the service.
People can use the Public Alerts page to search for a specific item by going directly to Google Maps and typing a name and place for a potential disaster.
Large-scale mobile alert systems are not without drawbacks, however. Late last year, Verizon apologized after texts from the Commercial Mobile Alert System, or CMAS, falsely warned Verizon users in New Jersey of a civil emergency and ordered them to "take shelter now," setting off widespread panic. This incident underscores the need for testing and innovation in developing public warning systems.
Still, governments, organizations and the tech industry recognize people increasingly turn to mobile phones and away from traditional radio and television sets for information, and understand cell phone messaging systems are an efficient way to reach millions of smartphone users at one time during emergencies, when every moment counts.
ITTO: Siren? What Siren? Emergency Alerts Coming to Smartphones originally appeared at Mobiledia on Wed Apr 11, 2012 9:47 am.
