….Vodafone today (20th Dec 07) completes the change to remove the 50c charge…
Vodafone has now removed the 50c registration and de-registration cost to receivers. Now receivers can OPT in and OPT out as many times as they want and to any plate they want without incurring a Telco charge.
So what that means is everyone can opt n to any OPTn participating business at any time and receive free their specials, alerts, notices etc and pickup the benefits that others miss.
And on every txt sent by OPTn businesses is how to opt out (OPTx) i.e. it’s the same as OPTing in just change the “n” for a “x” !!!!
….OPTN’s mobile carriers remove 50c charge…
OPTN’s carriers Telecom and Vodafone (processing) to remove the 50c registration and de-registration cost to receivers. Now receivers can OPT in and OPT out as many times as they want and to any plate they want without incurring a Telco charge.
This change brings the OPTN service in line with the act and removes any doubt as to costs to the subscriber with the new “Anti Spam act’ which became law as at 5th September 2007.
Council announces free emergency notification service
Rodney residents will now have the option of notification of civil defence emergencies sent direct to their mobile phones, thanks to a new service provided by the Rodney District Council and Auckland-based communications provider OPTN Limited.
The service will be free. However, mobile phone users will have to register their numbers to have the service provided. There will be a small one-off charge of 50 cents if registering by text.
The council’s emergency management officer, Chris Laird, says the new service is based on an existing texting product provided by OPTN, but has been modified for emergency alerting purposes specifically for Rodney.
He says the service will enhance the emergency management team’s ability to ensure people have immediate access to timely and consistent information. “Getting real time information to people during a civil defence emergency is critical. This service, along with more traditional mediums such as radio is fundamental to helping us do this.”
Mr Laird say that at this stage the messaging service, which will be managed by the emergency management office in terms of content and updating, will be activated only in the event of a tsunami, an impending localised emergency such as a cyclone, or when a Civil Defence Emergency is likely to be declared.
“In this context our aim is to provide subscribers with relevant ‘heads up’ information to ensure they can be prepared and, subsequently, take any necessary action for a significant emergency situation.”
OPTN Managing Director Murray Derecourt has advised that in the recent Mt Ruapehu lahar incident, some 1400 text alert messages were sent and received within 8 minutes.
The only costs to the subscriber are a one-off 50 cent registration fee if registering from their mobile phone, and a 50 cent deregistration fee.
Registration can be made by texting OPTNRDCD to 2678.
Alternatively registration is FREE by signing a permission form available at Rodney District Council Offices in Orewa, Warkworth, Helensville, and Huapai, and can also deregister by calling free-phone 0800 OPTN4ME (0800 678 6463)
Civil Defence
Grownups website www.grownups.co.nz to support Civil Defence text alerts
Grownups website and OPTN Ltd collaborate to infom and encourage members to OPT in to the Civil Defence emergency text alert service for Tsunami warnings and other emergency alerts. About Grownups – ‘Are you 50+ and looking for an interesting and useful website? Visit www.grownups.co.nz, Where GrownUps Click’
Manawatu District Council joins free text messaging Natural Disaster Alert notification service
OPTN™ ltd joins forces with local emergency management office
Text OPTNMANCD to 2678 to register now
OPTN Limited, a subsidiary of ROCOM Wireless, has licenced a free text messaging notification service to Manawatu District Council which will provide mobile phone owners with live updates during a civil defence emergency in the Manawatu area.
The TEXT messaging service will provide registered users with vital information during a civil defence emergency and is to be introduced by the Manawatu District Council immediately.
Emergency Management Officer, Trevor Auld, said the service allows officials to instantly inform people throughout the district of up-to-date and verified details regarding the emergency.
Mr Auld said the messages were free to receive and people could register by texting OPTNMANCD to 2678 for a one-off Telco 50c registration fee. It would cost another 50c to deregister. If 50c is a deterrent for people registering and deregistering from their mobile they can register FREE by completing a registration form which will be available throughout the district.
Click Here to download the entire article
Natural disaster alert just a free text message away
The Western Bay of Plenty has “another weapon in the arsenal” to protect people from natural disasters following the launch of a new text message warning service.
The free service will provide registered mobile phone users in the region with text alerts of storms, floods, tsunami and other Civil Defence emergencies.
The service was launched this week and is believed to be the first of its kind in New Zealand.
Residents in the Western Bay area – which extends from Waihi Beach in the north to Maketu in the south, and west across the Kaimai Ranges – can register by sending a 50c text or filling in a free registration form at local council offices.
In the event of a disaster, text alerts and updates will be sent to those registered.
Click here to read the full article at nzherald.co.nz
Mt Ruapehu DC joins free LAHAR texting alerts
Mt Ruapehu District Council joins
free text messaging Natural Disaster LAHAR Alert notification service
OPTN™ Ltd joins forces with local emergency management office
Text OPTNLAHAR to 2678 to register now
Mt Ruapehu – New Zealand SMS/Text company OPTN limited, a subsidiary of ROCOM Wireless, has licenced a free text messaging notification service to Ruapehu District Council which will provide mobile phone owners with free live updates during the anticipated ‘dam break’ lahar from the Mt Ruapehu Crater Lake
The TEXT messaging service will provide registered users with vital information during the LAHAR event and is to be introduced by the Ruapehu District Council immediately.
Click Here to download the entire article
