On the one year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’s disastrous landfall on New Orleans and neighboring cities I find it suitable to call to your attention an article posted in Fierce Wireless about an on going debate amid an FCC request for comment on a panel’s recommendations after reviewing Hurricane Katrina’s impact on communications networks.

Apparently, the wireless operators want dibs when it comes to restoring power because cell phones have become a lifeline for many in the wake of natural disasters and emergencies. I also seem to remember friends of mine from New Orleans telling me that before they saw any FEMA or Aid trucks directly after the storm… the first tracks they saw were those of Cingular and Verizon providing temporary cell signals and repairing damaged towers.

Anyways, you see, the problem is that the situation really is that the wireless companies really are at the mercy of power and landline companies who hold the necessary infrastructure to restore power to cell sites and they are saying now way. I hope that is not just a jealousy play over cell phones stealing landline business.

In an FCC filing, AT&T said it’s unclear why wireless carriers should get priority over “tens of millions of other business and residential subscribers.” Verizon Communications says it opposes mandates that would “limit flexibility” of its response. While it does look like mobile-phone companies are trying to “muscle their way to the head of the line” of power restoration ahead of landline companies, as AT&T puts it, operators do have a point. Time after time we’ve seen people trying to rely on the mobile phones amid an emergency. One year after Hurricane Katrina hit, parts of New Orleans still don’t have landline service! Unfortunately, business interests and politics will play a starring role in the outcome of this one.

What I think. Well I have not seen all the data but from what I know the very fact that the places that have landline service would not be occupied immediately and the fact that most people would have evacuated in an emergency situation and be on the go (even when they get back), it might be a good idea to get the cell phones up and running. Also the fact that cell phones were somewhat usable during the actual storm (some people got camera phone shots and SMS’ out to friends) means that, it would appear, that at the very least SMS and other mobile services are more reliable than landline’s to begin with. I welcome your comments

[Fierce via USA Today]

For more on Cell Phones and Emergency Situations Click Here

Technorati Tags: emergencies, katrina, landline, wireless

In lieu of last weeks Snakes On Your Cell Phone post I wanted to bring to your attention another calling service being provided, only this time its for when you can’t find a friend to help you look good or get out of a hole.

The Popularity Dialer is a service that lets you schedule an automated call to your phone at a specific time and date.

Have you ever been in a situation where you wished your cell phone would ring? Maybe you wanted to look extra important or popular on that hot date. Or maybe you just needed an excuse to escape from an unpleasant meeting.

With “The Popularity Dialer”, you can plan ahead. Via a web interface, you can choose to have your phone called at a particular time (or several times). At the elected time, your phone will be dialed and you will hear a prerecorded message that’s one half of a conversation. Thus, you will be prompted to have a fake conversation and will easily fool those around you.

[read]

Technorati Tags: popularitydialer, call, lollapalooza, voice

Unless you have been living under a rock you have probably heard by now of the upcoming movie Snakes On Plane staring Samuel L. Jackson (who agreed to do the movie simply because of the title and almost quit when they thought about changing it). The movie is pretty simple: dangerous snakes get loose on a plane, all hell breaks loose, Samuel L Jackson saves the day. The simple low budget kitschy nature of the film has already made it a cult classic even before it has come out. It’s one of those movies that is so stupid its bound to be great and thus has been viral since production.

Well, as the movie release date gets closer the studio itself is beginning to tap the viral attitude of the film itself. Voice clips of Samuel L Jackson telling you to go see the movie have already buzzed around the blogosphere. Well, now you can have Mr jackson tell your friend to go see the movie as well by having him give your friend a call.

Using the power of audio technology start-up VariTalk, the marketing genius’ at New Line Cinema have made it possible for you to type in your friends name (as well as some other attributes that involve funny little things like what your friend likes and how they travel) and have Samuel L Jackson use the information to call your friend and tell them to “stop [whatever you choose as their hobby] and go see “Snakes On A Plane.”

Well… its not really Samuel L Jackson, you see the VariTalk software is a kick ass text-to-speech technology with the capability to create personalized messages in a voice based on that of an actual person–in this case, Samuel L. Jackson… (I think they should get Jack Bauer (Kieffer Sutherland) to do the same for “24″).

Imagine what the viral capabilities this could have for candidates in political campaigns.

Not all numbers can be dialed (and once it calls a number and can’t call again) and not all names can be said, especially when I tried sending them out to some of my Israeli friends (but their is a generic option for such a thing, and all the other personalization’s still a apply).

So, what are you doing just sitting there?. Go to the website and get you and your friends ready for Snakes on a Plane! Do it now!!! Before they eat you.

[via Cnet]

“Snakes on a Plane: The Guide to the Internet Ssssssensation” (David Waldon)

Technorati Tags: marketing, samuel l jackson, snakes on a plane, varitalk