The Call in Number

[Michael]

Am I correct that there is only one number for calling in to I'm OK?
What prevents that number from being overwhelmed in an emergency? What
happens if that number is in an area that is physically part of the
emergency? Will SMS messages sent to that number (to be forwarded by
I'm OK) still get through?

[Trey Smith]

Hi, Michael-

Thanks for your comments.

The current implementation is not actually terribly scalable, mostly
because the SMS gateway service we are using charges a few cents per
message and we have a limited budget. (The single phone number is not
really an issue.) So far we're not actively trying to sign up large
numbers of users due to that issue. Think of it as a beta test with a
few serious users (including overseas employees of The World Bank).

Can you point me to the set of slides you mentioned? In order for us to
be sure they're up to date we need to know where you got them from.

Thanks,
-T

[Michael]

Go to:
http://imokapp.appspot.com/about

Then click on "Overview Slides" and download "imok.pdf".

These are the slides that I am referring to.

I surprised that you aren't getting active funding from the phone &
wireless carriers. They are the ones most vulnerable when disaster
strikes & everyone attempts to call or get calls. It would be in their
best interests to support this feature (as in built into the cell
phone when purchased). Have you talked with Emergency Management
agencies, like FEMA?
Michael

[Trey Smith]

Thanks for the followup.

These are good suggestions. We haven't been actively seeking funding
over the past few months.

-T

On 10/20/10 7:31 AM, Michael wrote:
> Go to:
> http://imokapp.appspot.com/about
>
> Then click on "Overview Slides" and download "imok.pdf".
>
> These are the slides that I am referring to.
>
> I surprised that you aren't getting active funding from the phone&
> wireless carriers. They are the ones most vulnerable when disaster

> strikes& everyone attempts to call or get calls. It would be in their

> best interests to support this feature (as in built into the cell
> phone when purchased). Have you talked with Emergency Management
> agencies, like FEMA?
> Michael
>
> On Oct 15, 2:06 pm, Trey Smith<trey.sm...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Hi, Michael-
>>
>> Thanks for your comments.
>>
>> The current implementation is not actually terribly scalable, mostly
>> because the SMS gateway service we are using charges a few cents per
>> message and we have a limited budget. (The single phone number is not
>> really an issue.) So far we're not actively trying to sign up large
>> numbers of users due to that issue. Think of it as a beta test with a
>> few serious users (including overseas employees of The World Bank).
>>
>> Can you point me to the set of slides you mentioned? In order for us to
>> be sure they're up to date we need to know where you got them from.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> -T
>>
>> On 10/15/10 6:59 AM, Michael wrote:
>>
>>> Am I correct that there is only one number for calling in to I'm OK?
>>> What prevents that number from being overwhelmed in an emergency? What
>>> happens if that number is in an area that is physically part of the
>>> emergency? Will SMS messages sent to that number (to be forwarded by
>>> I'm OK) still get through?
>

--
-Trey Smith
412-657-3579 (cell) http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~trey