Messaging application provider Dynmark International has published a whitepaper, Sending out an SMS – Text Messaging in Emergencies, which offers an insight into the challenges involved in communicating in emergency situations, and explores the ways through which SMS messaging can be used to co-ordinate aid efforts, prevent unnecessary dangerous journeys, reduce days of lost business, and potentially even save lives.

Dynmark notes that during a crisis, mobile phone networks often become overloaded, with demand on the local internet infrastructure also exceeding its designed capacity, and in some cases failing altogether. SMS, on the other hand, operates on the mobile carrier signal, rather than the connection used for mobile voice and data, allowing messages to be delivered and received on mobile devices, even when the networks are too congested to make voice calls.

“SMS has a crucial role to play in the management of any disaster, emergency or major logistical situation affecting large volumes of people” says Dynmark CEO, Oscar Jenkins. “The simplicity and reliability of the technology, both for users and developers, means it can be quickly integrated with existing databases and systems.”

The whitepaper contains numerous examples of how messaging has been used in different emergency scenarios across the world. During the travel chaos caused by the ash cloud from the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokul earlier this year, which grounded more than 100,000 flights and affected up to 10m travellers, SMS messaging was successfully used by several airlines to provide timely service update messages directly to travellers. Dynmark points out that SMS messaging is also widely used by schools and colleges to inform parents of school closures during spells of extreme weather or health hazards.

You can download the whitepaper for free here.