Public emergency alerts to be sent to all UK mobile phones

[Kremmen]

30 secs early for me.

My provider uses O2

[Wilmo]

Switched off the alerts.

With all the hype & publicity over the last few weeks I didn't need it to actually happen on my phone.
Alerts now back so on so if the sh1t hits the fan I will find out.

[Jocko]

Switched off the alerts.

With all the hype & publicity over the last few weeks I didn't need it to actually happen on my phone.
Alerts now back so on so if the sh1t hits the fan I will find out.

Unless of course, you were one of those who didn't get the alert and may not get the real thing!

[Kremmen]

I did consider turning it off but then decided not to so I would know what to expect.

The sound is unique from anything else so even if I don't look I'll know.

[Wilmo]

Switched off the alerts.

With all the hype & publicity over the last few weeks I didn't need it to actually happen on my phone.
Alerts now back so on so if the sh1t hits the fan I will find out.

Unless of course, you were one of those who didn't get the alert and may not get the real thing!

On Voxi, part of Vodafone.
Not been flagged as failed unlike 3

[Thingy]

So did anyone else NOT get this exciting emergency message this afternoon? I'm with Smarty, which is part of Three, and by all accounts the Three network failed dismally. Looks like we're all doomed in a real emergency ...

My wife and I are with Smarty and did not get the alert.

[Kremmen]

Smarty uses the 3 network

[nowster]

The sound is unique from anything else so even if I don't look I'll know.

I think it's supposed to be similar to the US Emergency Alert tones on radio and TV.

And I received it (EE Network, Manchester) 45 seconds early, according to the metadata recorded on the phone.

[Jocko]

My phone allowed me to preview the alert sound in Notifications, but since the alert, I can no longer preview it. I have also had issues with calls since  and my wife was logged out of her Hive account on her iPhone (Vodafone).
Switching my phone off and on made no difference.

[HertsHonda]

No Alert received on my 3 year old Sony Xperia XA2 - Android 9.
But then Gov web site hints that I may need Android 11!
I don't feel like throwing out an O.K. phone. Can I get a new one on the NHS? Or set it against Income Tax?

[Lord Voltermore]

Can I get a new one on the NHS?

Not a phone  but you can order tablets on the NHS  or 'my gp' apps on your smartphone    Assuming you have  a new enough smartphone for the apps to work.  In which case you wont need to update anyway   A vicious circle designed to eliminate  those without the latest smartphones.     

I was a bit annoyed the voice alert element  had an american accent.  Probably AI generated.   But a northern English version "EE by gum lad   theers t' trouble at t'mill"  alert  message wouldn't be suit everyone either .    

[Kremmen]

My alert was just a 'tone' no voice

[Jocko]

My alert was just a 'tone' no voice

Me too. My phone is an old "el cheapo" Vodafone V10 running on Android 9 and it worked. I believe it is iPhones that need iOS 11 or above. Currently iOS 16 I believe.

[Kremmen]

Mine is the latest Samsung S23 but still just a tone !

[ColinB]

My phone is an old "el cheapo" Vodafone V10 running on Android 9 and it worked. I believe it is iPhones that need iOS 11 or above. Currently iOS 16 I believe.

It’s not the model of 4G/5G phone that’s relevant, but the version of the OS.
https://www.gov.uk/alerts/how-alerts-work#compatible-devices
So Android 11 or above (earlier versions may still get it, presumably depending on individual builds), and iOS 14.5 or above.
Plus, of course, a network provider that can actually manage to transmit the alert message properly.