NewsChannel 5.com - Nashville, Tennessee - UT, Vanderbilt Add Text Message Alerts

UT, Vanderbilt Add Text Message Alerts

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The University of Tennessee and Vanderbilt University are rolling out text messaging systems to warn students and staff in an emergency.

UT's main campus in Knoxville and Vanderbilt in Nashville signed contracts with local providers for the services in the aftermath of the Virginia Tech massacre on April 16.

UT's one-year, $24,000 contract with e2Campus will enable the university to reach 35,000 participants, virtually all students and staff on campus.

There will be no cost to individuals and no one will be required to participate.

The company's Web-based "mass notification" system can send text message alerts to cell phones, pagers and Web pages.

Vanderbilt's system through a contract with Nashville-based DobieMobile offers similar services.

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