Set up

No, your mobile phone can’t have two SIM cards in it. Pick one SIM number to register your phone and remove the other when using Beacon.

I’m trying to add new Responders and I get this error warning

This happens because the Responder registered their phone through the app, before you could add them to your Data Center, and they are now in a generic data center called Registration.

The best way to avoid this from happening is to add your Responders to the website before they register their phones through the mobile app.

To resolve this please send us an email to [email protected] with the Responder’s Name and Phone Number, and the name of your Agency account

In most countries, there are companies who can offer you a this SMS gateway and with a dedicated number for you to use with Beacon. You can help us get you started with Beacon as soon as possible by helping us locate an SMS Gateway. If you are familiar with the major telecom companies in your country or if you have contacts at these companies, we recommend reaching out to them to ask about an SMS Gateway. Internet searches will also help find local companies that offer gateways for use with Beacon, and this is often how we at Trek Medics find these companies ourselves.

If you try to register a new responder and it says “This number is already registered”, please send us an email to [email protected] and include the phone number that is causing you problems and we will work it out.

We’re seeing different maps

It’s possible your Responders are seeing  a random map in their mobile app that’s different than your catchment area.

To make sure Responders are seeing the same map as Dispatchers are, they have to be in the same data center.

The best way to ensure this is to add your Responders to the website before they register their phones through the mobile app.

If Responders register their phones through the mobile app first, they are put in a generic Data Center, called “Registration”. The map they see in their app is coming from the Registration Data Center

To resolve this:

Please send us an email to [email protected] with the Responder’s Name and Phone Number, and the Data Center you want them registered in. Or, if you have lots of Responders with the same issue, we can also give you access to the Registration Data Center where you can find your Responders and transfer them to your own Data Center.

Yes, of course! Beacon was designed so that any person carrying a mobile phone could be dispatched to an emergency. Any vehicle will help get you to the location, and because Beacon communicates with mobile phones (and not mobile data terminals) whatever vehicle you use to transport to the hospital can be coordinated and tracked as well.

REQUIRED RESOURCES

1. Proven management
2. Trained responders
3. Adequate transportation
4. A phone number that the public can call to request assistance (preferably toll-free, but not necessary)
5. A reliable mobile phone signal*

*To use the mobile app version, you will also need reliable 3G/4G/Internet connectivity

Beacon’s costs are based on a number of factors:

1. Message handling — are you managing the message server locally or using our remote providers>?
2. Call volume — How many incidents do you expect per month?
3. Responder volume — How many responders will be involved?
4. Technical support — How capable are you of managing the system on your own?
5. Customizations — How much custom work and configurations do you need?

All of these factors are bundled in a monthly or annual fee which includes use of all updates, enhancements and add-ons.

SMS gateways are dedicated telephone numbers that allow our Beacon software to send messages to and receive messages from your first responders. This way, the first responders can send their short text message responses to a phone number that’s easily saved in their contacts, and will receive messages from this same number at each stage of the emergency incident.

What is an SMS gateway and why do we need one?

1. English
2. Spanish
3. French
4. Haitian Creole
5. Swahili
6. German
7. Nepali
8. Arabic
9. Somali
10. Chichewa

For Beacon, you will need either a dedicated shortcode or longcode. The shortcode is typically a 5 digit number, while longcodes are longer.

Many companies might want to give you a shared shortcode or longcode— this means that you share a number with their other clients. However, this typically won’t work with Beacon because sharing means that text messages will have to contain a special keyword to tell the company where text messages need to be sent. This will disrupt the normal workflow of Beacon.

Also, it’s important that the shortcode or longcode be two-way. This will allow Beacon to both send and receive text messages to and from responders.

Other relevant questions include:

1. Do you offer demo shortcodes/longcodes so we can make sure that it will work with Beacon?
2. If there is an application process, how long will it take to get a shortcode/longcode?
3. Will the shortcode/longcode work with all mobile phone carriers in this country?
4. Is there a limit on the number of text messages or characters per text message that we can send through the shortcode/longcode?
5. Can you provide info on pricing?
   • What are the setup costs?
   • What are the monthly/annual costs?
   • What are the costs per text message sent?

The presence of a human dispatcher provides multiple advantages that are lost when channeled through an automated app:

1. Real-time feedback between caller and dispatcher
2. Ability to provide pre-arrival instructions over the phone much more easily
3. Talking on phone allows caller to keep their eyes on the scene of the emergency (and not the phone screen)
4. Dispatchers are able to pick up on context and background info (vs. trying to interpret text messages)
5. If you’re texting you can’t be giving CPR — but you can if it’s on speakerphone