AT&T Pushing Emergency Alerts Update to iPhone 5 and 4S Devices

Wireless carrier AT&T announced on Friday that it will be pushing out an update to its customers that use an iPhone 5 or 4S. The new software is to add support for an FCC-ordered Wireless Emergency Alert system.

AppleInsider: 

AT&T said it will begin rolling out the software update for Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) today, which will allow iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S owners to receive government-issued safety messages in the form of text-like messages.

Some iPhone 4 users are also reporting they are receiving the OTA in some areas.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission, non-profit trade organization for the wireless industry CTIA, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency joined together to crete the WEA system.

The three types of alerts users will receive are:

• Presidential Alerts – Alerts issued by the President or a designee;
• Imminent Threat Alerts – Alerts that include severe man-made or natural disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, etc., where an imminent threat to life or property exists; and
• AMBER Alerts– Alerts that meet the U.S. Department of Justice’s criteria to help law enforcement search for and locate an abducted child.

The alerts will resemble a text message, however the system uses a different technology, and subscribers won’t be charged for incoming alerts.