[IP] -- query from Iper SMS terror warning London IP piece - but will it work during terrorist attack when cell phone bandwidth is overloaded or commandeered for emergency use as has been mandated in US after 9/11

[Dave Farber <dave@farber.net>]

------ Forwarded Message
From: Paul Foldes <pfoldes@eidmgt.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2003 21:00:53 -0500
To: dave@farber.net
Subject: SMS terror warning London IP piece - but will it work during
terrorist attack when cell phone bandwidth is overloaded or commandeered for
emergency use as has been mandated in US after 9/11

Dave, for IP, if you agree subject merits attention

Two things came to mind when I read this story today.

Will SMS messaging work when bandwidth for individual use is constricted
due to 'priority first responder/police' use -- as phone companies have
been instructed by Government after 9/11?

and will SMS work when the cellular network is overloaded by everyone else
phoning to contact friends and family on the remaining bandwidth -- as on
9/11

I recall that cell system was both damaged, and overloaded.

Blackberry, on a different frequency and network worked when cells did not,
due to damage/congestion on cellular network.

Wondering if any IP readers have an informed opinion on this as I just gave
up my blackberry service for sms service. In light of current hightened
alert, wondering about wisdom of such action.

Paul

At 03:10 PM 2/13/03 -0500, you wrote:
>Thursday, 13 February, 2003, 14:26 GMT
>Text service warns of attacks
>
>Cats will keep people away from danger areas
>
>Londoners are getting a text message service that will tell them what to
>do if terrorists attack the capital.
>
>The City Alert Texting System (Cats) will warn people where attacks are
>taking place and pass on information about what to do to people caught in
>an incident.
>
>Londoners sign up to the commercial service using the postcode of the
>areas in which they live and work.
>
>Once the system is working in London, it will be rolled out to other
>cities across the UK.
>
>Watching London
>
>The Cats service will pass on emergency news alerts to subscribers about
>life-threatening events taking place in London.
>
>"We were horrified by what happened in New York on 11 September which
>demonstrated the vulnerability of major urban areas in open societies,"
>said Cats founder David Pieterse.


------ End of Forwarded Message

-------------------------------------
To unsubscribe or update your address, click
  http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip

Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/