HeyWire Business is the First IP Mobile Messaging Service Provider to Announce Compliance with the FCC's Text-to-911 Rule

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- HeyWire Business, the leading enterprise mobile messaging cloud service, today announced that it is implementing text-to-911 capabilities for its Business Messenger app nearly a month ahead of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) deadline of December 31, 2014 for mobile network operators and IP mobile messaging service providers – or what the agency refers to as "Commercial Mobile Radio Services (CMRS)" and "interconnected messaging providers" – to support text-to-911 on their networks.

Operating on any iOS, Android or Windows Phone smartphone or tablet that has a cellular connection, the Business Messenger app enables users to send and receive texts from their office phone numbers, providing a true "one number" business identity for voice and text. Similar to how people use different business and personal email accounts, Business Messenger provides separation between business and personal texts and will be the first business text messaging service to support text-to-911 on its network for subscribers.

In August, the FCC announced that all CMRS and interconnected messaging providers must support text-to-911 capabilities on their networks by the end of 2014. Text-to-911 requires support at both ends of the connection – the CMRS or interconnected messaging providers for users to send a text from their mobile devices, as well as the ability to receive those text messages at the local 911 call centers, also known as Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs). Currently, there are a limited number of 911 call centers serving portions of 16 states and all of Vermont and Maine that accept text-to-911, but availability is expanding. If a user tries to send a text-to-911 message in an area where the 911 call center does not accept it yet, they will receive an automatic bounce-back message informing them to call 911. The FCC required the bounce-back message in 2013 and HeyWire Business implemented it six months ahead of the major CMRS and other interconnected messaging providers.

"As texting becomes integral to business communications, our support of text-to-911 is an important step to help ensure public safety as user habits and expectations evolve in our increasingly mobile-first society," said Gene Lew, CTO of HeyWire Business. "Our cloud-based architecture was designed with flexibility so we could add features like text-to-911 quickly and roll them out to all our subscribers, eliminating the challenges faced by messaging providers with device-centric architectures that limit their abilities to adapt."

Even as text-to-911 becomes more widely supported by 911 call centers, the FCC advises users to always contact 911 by making a voice call, if possible. Text-to-911 is viewed as a complementary emergency communications option that can be a lifesaving alternative in a number of situations, including when a person who is deaf, hard of hearing or has a speech disability is unable to make a voice call, in locations where voice networks are congested, or when a 911 voice call could endanger the caller.

Built on the industry's first cloud platform for messaging services that handles more than a billion messages each month, Business Messenger is used directly by business users and through white-labeled enterprise solutions offered through leading business telecommunications providers. In addition to mobile devices, users can access their Business Messenger accounts from a PC, a Mac or through integration with Cisco Jabber for Windows.

Additional Resources

●       FCC text-to-911 quick facts & FAQ: http://www.fcc.gov/guides/text-911-quick-facts-faqs

●       FCC text-to-911 order: http://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-adopts-text-911-rules

●       PSAPs supporting text-to-911: http://transition.fcc.gov/pshs/911/Text_911_Deployments.pdf

●       Business Messenger by HeyWire product info: http://heywirebusiness.com/businessmessenger/

About HeyWire Business

HeyWire Business is the leading enterprise mobile messaging company that delivers mobile-first business communications and customer support. The company is a pioneer in bringing cloud texting to business landlines and customer support 1-800 numbers, connecting businesses and professionals securely and reliably with anyone in their business world – inside and outside the enterprise. Channel partnerships with leading business technology providers extend HeyWire Business' reach to more than 25 million business people and major call centers, on a cloud platform that handles over a billion messages per month. HeyWire Business recently earned recognition from industry leading organizations, including being named an AlwaysOn Global 100 Companies to Watch, and awarded the CTIA Mobile Cloud Emerging Technology Award and PwC Promise Award. For more information, please visit http://www.heywirebusiness.com.

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SOURCE HeyWire Business

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