Wireless Internet & Mobile Computing Reports Northeast Blackout Highlights Need For Consumers To Develop Emergency Communications Plan

Wireless Internet & Mobile Computing consulting reports how the recent Northeast blackout highlights the need for consumers to develop a personal wireless communications plan. Most consumers are confused about how to select a phone just for voice communications, let alone picking one or more devices for emergency communications and understanding all the features. Wireless Internet & Mobile Communications has created a unique tutorial for corporations and government agencies that want to help their employees create a wireless communications plan.

CHEVY CHASE, MD (PRWEB) August 23, 2003 -- Wireless Internet & Mobile Computing, a pioneering wireless data consulting firm, reports that the electricity blackout across the Northeastern section of the United States and Canada highlights the need for consumers to develop a communications plan for contacting family and friends during emergencies.

"Consumers must consider multiple forms of communications, such as cellular phones, pagers, walkie talkies and landline phones, and not simply rely on a single communications device," says Alan A. Reiter, president of the Washington, D.C. area consulting firm.

Wireless Internet & Mobile Computing says the telecommunications industry has not done a sufficient job of educating consumers about how to deal with emergency situations.

"Corporations have I.T. and telecom experts to develop emergency telecommunications plans and procedures, but their employees do not have this expertise. It's important for consumers to understand their communications options and plan ahead," he says.

Reiter, who has been analyzing wireless communications since 1978, says consumers must not only understand their options but, just as importantly, understand how to use the capabilities of the products they select.

For example, he notes that cellular text messaging (SMS) sometimes works when cellular voice communications does not. One form of communications, such as cellular, might fail during an emergency, but another communications network, such as two-way paging, might work well.

Reiter says that while much has been accomplished to improve communications networks since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the communications industry still isn't doing enough to educate consumers.

The lack of information prompted the consulting firm to write a brief guide. A few days after September 11, Wireless Internet & Mobile Computing posted a wireless communications emergency guide for consumers and corporations on its Web site (http://www.wirelessinternet.com/Intro_Wireless_Data_and_Terrorism.htm).

"I continue to search for information that would help consumers understand how to take the best of advantage of wireless communications during emergencies, and I find very little," he says.

"Wireless Survival" tutorial

The consulting firm has created a unique tutorial for corporations and government agencies that want to help their employees understand how to best use wireless communications during emergencies.

The "Wireless Survival" tutorial examines such areas as:

How to select your cellular operator

A non-technical guide to understanding the alphabet soup of wireless communications: GSM, CDMA, iDEN, GPRS, EDGE, 1xRTT, 1xEV-DO, 1xEV-EV, CDPD, WAP

Voice versus data capabilities in emergencies

Understanding simple cellular phones, sophisticated cellular phones, pagers and wireless LANs (802.1b/g/a) in emergency situations

The cost/benefit of using multiple communications networks

Wireless capabilities employees need to understand, including text messaging (SMS), wireless e-mail and picture messaging

The pros and cons of using different wireless form factors, including phones, pagers, pager/phones and PDA/phones

Developing a wireless emergency checklist

Learning how to make a phone call from a laptop computer or a PDA

Tapping alternative sources of electricity not on the main power grid

Additional information about the "Wireless Survival" tutorial is available at the company's Web site, http://www.wirelessinternet.com/wireless_homeland_security__corporations_and_consumers.htm

About Wireless Internet & Mobile Computing

Wireless Internet & Mobile Computing was established in 1996 to jump-start and enhance wireless data businesses around the world by providing strategic analysis, corporate tutorials and workshops, customized executive reports and conferences.

The consulting firm specializes in such wireless areas as e-mail and instant messaging, information services, finance (banking, stock trading), access to corporate data, e-commerce (purchasing tickets, electronics, books), entertainment (games, music, ring tones), the wireless digital photo marketplace (camera phones and other wireless-enabled digital cameras), wireless LANs, and advertising to wireless devices.

Wireless Internet & Mobile Computing analyzes wireless data efforts around the world and its clients range from multinational corporations to small start-ups. The consulting firm helps U.S. companies enter overseas markets as well as helping non-U.S. companies enter the U.S. marketplace.

About Alan A. Reiter

Alan A. Reiter has been anticipating mobile communications and mobile computing trends since 1978. He created the world's first wireless computing newsletter, wireless computing conference and cellular conference.

He also helped launch the first cellular magazine and in 1983 created the first newsletter devoted to FM radio subcarriers (the technology being used by Microsoft for its nationwide one-way data network beginning in fall 2003).

He also helped create and grow the first U.S. trade association for public paging and wireless phones in Washington, D.C.