Honeywell (NYSE:HON) today introduced Instant Alert® Plus, a Web-based mass notification service that quickly delivers critical information and direction in an emergency.
Designed to meet the crisis management needs of colleges and universities, municipalities, government, businesses, and healthcare and industrial facilities, Instant Alert Plus allows organizations to broadcast a clear, consistent message to any communications device — phone, cell phone, pager, e-mail or PDA. The service can send 100,000 30-second phone calls and 125,000 text messages in 15 minutes.
“In today’s mobile society, knowing how to quickly get in touch with someone is difficult,” said Mike Taylor, vice president of Americas marketing for Honeywell Building Solutions. “This is especially true in a campus-like setting with thousands of people moving to and from different buildings. Instant Alert Plus uses multiple communication channels to reach people no matter where they are, helping leaders provide timely, accurate information in a crisis.”
The service replaces traditional phone trees, which are slow and prone to inaccuracy, as well as auto-dialers that require onsite hardware, extra phone lines and IT support. It is simply activated by placing a phone call or typing a message on a computer with an Internet connection. A series of distributed, redundant call center networks is used to disseminate the information. As a result, Instant Alert Plus is one of the most reliable, cost-effective means of emergency communication.
“We’ve built an integrated, multi-modal warning system and phone notification is an integral piece because of the precision and immediacy it provides,” said Art Botterell, community warning system manager for the Office of the Sheriff of Contra Costa County, which recently signed a five-year contract for Instant Alert Plus. “Fortunately, this technology doesn’t see a lot of use for emergency situations. But it has to be dependable and effective when it’s needed.”
Along with broadcasting information, Instant Alert Plus can generate real-time reports that show who has and has not received a message. It also has a two-way communication function that gives organizations the ability to poll and get feedback from employees or the public. And the service allows users to develop an unlimited number of subgroups — e.g., emergency responders, board of directors and security personnel — and send customized messages to these groups.
Other features include call bridging to automatically link message recipients into a conference call, attachment sending to provide documents with more detailed information and instructions, and integration capabilities to third-party databases.
“The service helps users manage the situation instead of the phone lines,” Taylor said.
Instant Alert Plus is an extension of Instant Alert for Schools, a notification service that grade school districts use to improve communication and emergency preparedness. More than 1,400 schools nationwide rely on the service to connect with parents and guardians.
For more information about Honeywell Instant Alert Plus, call 800-345-6770 ext. 601 or visit www.honeywell.com/instantalert.
Honeywell International is a $33 billion diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell's shares are traded on the New York, London and Chicago Stock Exchanges. It is one of the 30 stocks that make up the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is also a component of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index. For additional information, please visit www.honeywell.com. Honeywell Building Solutions is part of the Honeywell Automation and Control Solutions business group, a global leader in providing product and service solutions that improve efficiency and profitability, support regulatory compliance, and maintain safe, comfortable environments in homes, buildings and industry. For more information about Building Solutions, access www.honeywell.com/buildingsolutions.
This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of fact, that address activities, events or developments that we or our management intend, expect, project, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s assumptions and assessments in light of past experience and trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other relevant factors. They are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results, developments and business decisions may differ from those envisaged by our forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements are also subject to risks and uncertainties, which can affect our performance in both the near- and long-term. We identify the principal risks and uncertainties that affect our performance in our Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Instant Alert® is a registered trademark of Honeywell International Inc.
Contacts:
Aaron Parker, 952-656-1721
aaron.parker@honeywell.com
