Owensboro KY adds 'mobile 9-1-1' using Solacom Emergency Notification System

Chicago, IL, October 19, 2011 — The Owensboro-Daviess County Central Dispatch is now using Solacom Technologies’ Emergency Notification System (ENS) to extend their level of service to mobile phone users who register their number to receive emergency alerts.

The Emergency Notification System (ENS) allows the Owensboro 9-1-1 center to use a specially equipped Guardian Intelligent Workstation to draw a circle or polygon on a map and quickly generate a custom calling list that includes all land-line phones in the defined area, as well as all mobile phones registered to receive emergency notifications – then automatically sends an emergency message to the complete list. Owensboro- Daviess County residents can register their mobile phone number online for free.

“The number of people that depend on mobile phones continues to grow at a rapid pace and it is vital to have a means of quickly reaching them when danger threatens” commented Ray Vilis, Solacom vice president of Advanced Emergency Systems.

Owensboro added ENS capability to their Solacom next generation capable 9-1-1 public safety system purchased more than a year ago in order to consolidate county and city 9-1-1 operations into a new central dispatch facility. That decision was made to save taxpayer dollars and to increase the level of service with faster response. It also paves the way for Owensboro 9-1-1 to implement next generation services, such as texting 9-1-1, as standards are finalized and the new services become available.

Prior to consolidation, the city and county had separate facilities for public safety 9-1-1. In addition to the cost of maintaining separate sites and phones lines, the two facilities used different 9-1-1 controller systems – which inevitably added delays and complications when transferring calls between the sites. The new Solacom system includes touch-screen capability for rapidly transferring calls to the appropriate first response agency whether they are within the city limits or elsewhere in the county.

ENS is an optional component of the Solacom Emergency Services Platform that seamlessly integrates with a Guardian NG E9-1-1 Controller or a Guardian Emergency Services Routing Proxy.

About Solacom
Solacom Technologies builds some of the world’s most reliable critical communications systems that integrate Voice, Video and Data to deliver advanced IP-based interoperability solutions for public safety 9-1-1, military command, security and other mission critical applications. With a legacy of innovation in air traffic control and public safety, our engineers have pioneered many industry advances over the past 25 years. For more information visit www.solacom.com

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