For example, a potential evolving crisis needs to be broadcast to all law enforcement, fire departments, HAZMAT, Swat, and Homeland Security personnel. One department uses WebLink Wireless two-way units and another department uses Nextel phones with two-way text messaging enabled. Within a short amount of time (seconds, minutes), the dispatcher would receive confirmation from every field worker via all departments across both wireless networks along with short status responses for each message sent.
Incident #44 – Chemical fire at 1234 Main St. Response Required
Dispatched Message at: 2:30 AM Time Now: 2:35 AM

The database would also hold field worker primary and secondary phone numbers, as a back up to the dispatched message, since it is always possible that a device has a dead battery, the device is broken, or is out of coverage at that time. Messages not responded to migrate to the top of a distribution list to enable the dispatcher to quickly and easily follow up as necessary.
The benefits of this type of enhancement are multi-fold. The flexibility of offering unlimited custom responses provides the originator of the emergency message significantly more control over an unfolding emergency. Even more critical, the dispatcher can quickly assess which individuals (if any) did not acknowledge or receive the message.