WILMINGTON, N.C.-Alerts USA, LLC has expanded its service to include “near-instant” SMS alerts of threats of terrorism.
Launched last year, Alerts USA provides warnings of domestic disasters, terror alerts and events, changes in the national threat level, and official responses to national emergencies. Subscribers to the service get a brief text message, then press a button to hear streaming audio with detailed information about the warning.
With the new service option, subscribers can choose to receive an SMS alert in lieu of the streaming audio. Launched yesterday, the option was created primarily for users of text pagers and PDAs who may not have the option of listening to the audio message.
“By popular demand, we’ve added a simple text version of the service,” said Steven Aukstakalnis, president of Alerts USA. “We’ve provided the option for people to get the gist of what was going on (without the audio).”
The streaming audio service is available for $3.99 per month; text messaging is $2.99 monthly. Both services are available on any U.S. wireless service, Aukstakalnis said.
