Q What is SMS text messaging?

A A text message via SMS (Short Message Service) is a single short message that is displayed as text on the screen of the recipient's mobile telephone. Messages travel over and above the system's radio channel on the signaling path. An SMS text message can be up to 140 characters in length.

Q Is text messaging a fast way to communicate?

A Many outgoing text messages can be sent rapidly, unlike direct telephone dialing. Thousands of people can receive your text message in minutes. Text messages can even be received while the phone is in use, so there are rarely busy signals.

Q How fast is broadcast text messaging?

A Many outgoing messages can be sent rapidly, unlike direct telephone dialing. It is an extremely fast and efficient way to send out many messages in a short amount of time. Typically it takes 3-5 minutes to dial and leave a voice message. In comparison, a text message is delivered in about 20 milliseconds.

Q Who can receive text messages?

A Any mobile phone user with text messaging enabled can receive text messages. Text messaging is free with some mobile telephone providers, and fee-based on others.

Q How common is mobile phone use today?

A As of June, 2004, Jupiter Research counts PDAs in the U.S. at 14 million, versus approximately 160 million wireless phones, according to Enpocket. That means 53 percent of the country's adult population is carrying one of these devices. It's estimated that 61% of Americans use cellular phones, with the highest group of users being adults between 35 and 49 years old (71%). Many school parents fall into this age group.

Q What is K12mobile?

A K12mobile is an emergency broadcast system for schools. It utilizes SMS text messaging available to most parents via mobile phone. It's an extremely fast, efficient, and inexpensive way to reach parent and staff in an emergency. There is a minimal annual fee for school, and K12mobile is free to parents and staff.

Q Is K12mobile a proven service?

A K12mobile's message center successfully delivers messages for clients worldwide everyday. Be confident that K12mobile will work when you need it. It is built on a robust, reliable network using redundant and geographically distributed servers.

Q Can messages be received by email?

A Yes! K12mobile broadcasts all emergency messages to parent and staff email addresses as well as mobile phones.

Q Is K12mobile difficult to use?

A If you're familiar with basic web browsing, you can use K12mobile.

Q Will I receive unwanted messages on my mobile phone or email?

A No! Contact information provided is for use of K12mobile emergency text alerts only. K12mobile will not distribute or share personal information with any 3rd party.

Q Why is K12mobile so important?

A When you least expect it, situations arise that require reliable, quick, coordinated communication among parents and teachers. K12mobile can

• Save critical notification time
• Free up administrators for other important initiatives
• Compliment manual calling tree procedures
• Add an extra level of insurance
• Reach hundreds of people in minutes.

Q How can schools implement this program?

A K12mobile will provide you with a letter to distribute to parents encouraging them to participate in this piece of your school's emergency plan. As you communicate the importance of this initiative to all parents, those who do not have cell phones can designate a friend or relative's cell phone as the emergency text messaging contact.

Q Is K12mobile easy to set up and maintain?

A Since K12mobile is a web-based solution, there's no hardware to install, no software to upgrade, no additional phone lines to purchase, ever! And there is minimal setup required by the school. An online account is created for the school with secure access by the designated administrators. Schools can enter pre-determined messages to save time in an emergency. The school notifies their parents to register their mobile phone numbers for emergency services. Parents and staff create individual accounts online at K12mobile.com, so there's no set-up required by the school for parent and staff participation.

Q Can I print a letter to parents with instructions for participation?

A Yes. To make it easy for you to implement K12Mobile, we've created a letter that you can download and print. Distribute to parents so they can go online to input their mobile phone numbers and email address. Choose from Parent Letter Word Document or Parent Letter PDF.

Q Can I print a flyer to inform schools about K12mobile?

A Yes. To let your school or district know about K12Mobile, we've created a flyer that you can download and print. Distribute to principals and school/district administrators. K12mobile is affordable, simple, and effective.

Q How are parent and staff mobile phone numbers entered and maintained?

A Parents and staff enter and maintain their own mobile phone numbers. They can login and update phone numbers as often as they wish. They can add as many numbers as they wish. You will need a regular procedure to remind parents to update these numbers--quarterly, perhaps.

Q How does an emergency message get sent?

A An emergency message can be initiated from the web or any mobile device. The system can be configured to require the sender to enter a password to initiate a notification sequence. The principal or designated administrator enters a text message on the web site or mobile phone… or selects a pre-stored message. Upon submission, the message will be broadcast to all parents and staff participating in the program. In minutes, your entire K12mobile contact list will receive your message through any worldwide text messaging device - as well as email - simultaneously.

Q Does the outgoing message tie up school telephone lines or Internet access?

A No! If the outgoing message is sent via mobile phone, the school phone lines are unaffected. And if the outgoing message is sent via the Internet, the Internet connection is not kept busy by the process. The message broadcasting takes place at a central location away from the school. The speed of the school Internet connection is not important as each text message is about 2 lines of text, typically a couple of seconds.

Q Can schools send messages to faculty/staff and not the parents?

A Yes! An outgoing message can be sent to one or more groups: administrators, faculty, staff, and parents. The principal or designated administrator selects any or all of these groups when sending a message. This way the school can tailor the messages toward specific recipients.

Q Can the message be sent from outside of the school?

A Absolutely! You can access K12mobile.com from anywhere with Internet access and a proper User ID and Password.

Q Can schools send non-emergency messages to parents via text messaging?

A Not at this time. K12mobile is currently offered only as an emergency service to schools. We will offer non-emergency school communication in K12mobile's Phase II development.

Q  How can schools implement this program for all parents?

A  Your school will encourage parents to participate in this piece of your school's emergency plan. As you communicate the importance of this initiative to all parents, those who do not have cell phones can designate a friend or relative's cell phone as the emergency text messaging contact.

Q  Can schools pay for K12mobile using a credit card?

A  Yes. Schools can pay for K12mobile either by check or by credit card. When schools register online at K12mobile.com, the invoice will include a place to enter your credit card information. The principal will still sign the invoice as well as the credit card section of the invoice and mail it to us. We will process your payment for you.

Q What setup is required by the parents?

A Parents and staff access a secure account at K12mobile.com to input their current mobile phone number(s) and email address. They will receive a test message on their phone to ensure registration was successful.

Q How do parents maintain current mobile phone numbers in the system?

A Parents can login as often as necessary to update mobile telephone numbers and email addresses. It is important that the school have the best mobile number to use in the event of an emergency.

Q How can parents add additional numbers to the system?

A Parents can list unlimited mobile phone numbers with K12mobile for emergency contact from the school. This unlimited structure is only available for a limited time. The opportunity for additional numbers is available during the initial parent registration or anytime parents login with their secure username and password.

Q How do parents receive an emergency message from the school?

A When the school broadcasts an emergency text message to all parents, all registered mobile numbers will receive the message. An email message will also be sent to all registered email addresses. Busy signals are rare, and text messages can be received even if the phone is in use. If a parent receives an emergency text message from the school, he/she simply reads the message on the mobile phone screen according to the phone's instructions.

Q Will parents still receive traditional telephone notification during an emergency?

A Each school publishes its emergency procedures with parents, and will put the emergency plan into action when necessary. Most schools have multiple means of communicating with parents, and text messaging is one such strategy. It is not meant to replace all other forms of communication with parents in the event of an emergency.