Yorktown, Virginia, February 2, 2010
Aquis Communications Announces Launch of UnityAlert Emergency Mass Notification System
Aquis Communications, a subsidiary of ComSoft Corporation, announced today the successful launch of its UnityAlertTM Emergency Mass Notification System. UnityAlertTM is a multimodal mass notification system which incorporates multi-sensory wireless equipment, ubiquitous coverage and the most comprehensive notification architecture in the industry. Systems have already been deployed at Centre College in Danville, KY; Pikeville College and Pike County 911 in Pikeville, KY; and Portsmouth City Schools in Portsmouth, OH.
Brian Bobeck, Aquis’ President said “the UnityAlertTM System was developed because we saw inherent shortfalls in existing mass notification systems. So we developed what we believe to be the most comprehensive notification system on the market. We expanded the ways in which constituents in a campus environment can be notified.” In addition to SMS text, E-mail, Cell phone, landline and other traditional means of communication, UnityAlertTM offers wireless radio frequency (RF) point-to-multi-point information dissemination delivered to a variety of proprietary multi-sensory wireless devices. The devices include large LED display boards, small wall-mounted emergency display devices, wireless sirens as well as personal devices. The system has multiple address capability to permit zoned or targeted message delivery within a campus setting. The devices have flashing strobe lights, audible alarms, text to speech announcements and text message displays which activate during emergency alerts. These capabilities collectively improve the ability of the system to attract attention during an emergency as well as provide alerting assistance to the hearing and vision impaired. The devices are controlled by commercial power as well as back-up battery. The System is operated by UnityAlertTM Dispatch Software, with both dedicated and hosted solutions available. The software can also send Instant messages to viral community forums such as MSN, AOL, Yahoo, Twitter and Facebook.
The UnityAlertTM system has been designed to provide robust and reliable time critical emergency notification messaging, alarms and voice commands to any environment that may have difficulty receiving other means of communication. In larger public areas or venues and larger classrooms and lecture halls messaging is displayed on large LED display boards. In smaller areas such as classrooms, stairwells, dormitory rooms and offices Mini Wall-Mounted devices are installed. Personal devices are available as well. Anyone within the vicinity of UnityAlertTM devices will receive audible, visual and alphanumeric alert messages. The UnityAlertTM system may also be used for informational messages such as weather, events or schedule changes.
Mr. Bobeck adds “many schools, universities and healthcare institutions have relied on systems utilizing SMS Text and e-mail as the sole or main delivery mechanism. These systems require each recipient to have a cell phone, have the phone turned on or be in front of a computer. History has shown us that this is a problem. Transient students, classroom restrictions, SMS text delays as well as coverage issues have made this notification method unreliable when used as the sole method of notification. The UnityAlertTM system will notify cell phones, SMS text, pagers, phones, E-mail, fax and community based applications such as Facebook as well as allow the entity to take more responsibility in ensuring a safe environment by supplying strategically located equipment throughout their facilities. The Campus should not just rely on users supplying their own equipment. The more diverse the system the more effective it will be in an emergency situation. Campus visitors and other unregistered members of the public will receive notification regardless of their personal communication devices”.
LaMoine Potter, National Director of Sales for Unity added “ The key differentiator for UnityAlertTM is it’s ability to reach all parts of a campus or community with the most diverse communication methods possible. Further it relieves the burden of the user community having to supply their own equipment or registering with a system. With UnityAlertTM, if you are on campus during an emergency, you will be notified regardless.”
UnityAlertTM supports the Joint Commission’s new Emergency management Standard EM 02.02.01. UnityAlertTM also supports the 2008 HEOA (Higher Education Opportunities Act) Section 485 as it relates to Emergency Notifications. UnityAlertTM qualifies for grants under the HEOA Section 821 awarding funds for Emergency Notification Systems.
