UK Company Releases School Notification Service

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 01/12/10

UK-based Call-Systems Technology has launched a new Web service to notify parents and guardians in the event of a school emergency.

ParentCall is an online program that delivers messages by e-mail, text to mobile phones, and text to voice on landlines. The service also allows the parent to reply to the message via e-mail or text, keeping both the parent and school in contact.

"For example, using ParentCall a school can let parents know instantly if it is closed for the day due to the snow," said Peter Hutchinson, managing director of the company. "Because the message is sent by the method (or methods) each parent prefers, text, e-mail, or phone, there's a much higher chance that it will get through... Equally, if a school has to close during the day, ParentCall lets parents respond to the message quickly, for example, to warn the school if they may be delayed picking up their child."