Emergency paging has entered a new era in South Africa with the launch of a sophisticated new DECT (digital enhanced cordless telephony) short message solution (SMS).
According to Rob Browne, Ericsson business development manager at Dimension Data Interactive Communications, the new Ericsson DECT SMS solution is ideal for any environment in which teams and individuals have to be alerted in case of emergencies. This could range from production plants and the process industry to mines and hospitals.
Essentially DECT is a network of low-power radio base stations set up to provide coverage throughout a confined location such as an office campus, factory site or mine. Within this area users can make and receive calls with complete freedom, indoors and outdoors. As they walk around the workplace users are seamlessly handed over from one radio base station to another.
"The new Ericsson BC11 introduces an avenue for building DECT-based SMS applications. Customised SMS applications can be developed for a variety of connections, including the Internet or other external interfaces; e-mail, alarm inputs or contacts," Browne explains.
A CTI-interface is provided for creating input and organisation of messages in a number of ways. The first option is "WebPage", a Web-based interface. With "WebPage", a supervisor, receptionist or a secretary can create and send messages in real-time, thereby avoiding delivery delays.
Another option for input of messages is to use a contact message package. This interface makes connection of devices like make/break contacts or detector alarms possible.
"For example, production lines can be monitored. Should a conveyer belt in the line break, an alarm will be triggered. The SMS server will automatically send a predetermined message to the appropriate service unit so that immediate action can be taken.
"The DECT handset on which the SMS message is received can also initiate non-movement and push-button alarms to the SMS server, the server can then act upon the real-time alarm and distribute text message or start/stop external equipment," he adds.
DECT handsets which support reception of SMS text messages and sending of alarm messages are required for this application. The DECT resemble a cellular handset and offer talktime of around 20 hours and standby time of 40 hours.
"These handsets are convenient and comfortable to use and could replace a conventional pager and cellular phone. However, businesses adopting the DECT SMS system don`t have to throw out their pagers because the SMS solution also offers a serial interface with a paging system.
"The paging system can send a message, not only to pagers, but also to the DECT handset. It sends a text message with more precise information than just a code, and the user can call back immediately, direct from the DECT telephone," Browne concludes.
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