Understand the Alert Ready service
Alert Ready is a service designed to deliver critical and potentially life-saving emergency alert messages to Canadians. The Alert Ready system was developed in partnership with federal, provincial, and territorial emergency management officials, Pelmorex Corp., the broadcast industry, and wireless service providers to ensure you receive emergency alerts immediately and know when to take action to keep you and your family safe. Beginning in April 2018, all wireless service providers will have the capability to distribute emergency alerts received from alerting authorities directly to consumers’ WPA-compatible wireless devicesusing Cell Broadcast distribution. The list of the compatible devicesis constantly updated, and can be consulted here. Wireless service providers will only receive and relay messages that are issued for threat-to-life situations. Emergency alerts intended for wireless devices are issued to a defined geographic area, which can be as small as a few city blocks, so that only people in the defined area receive the emergency alerts. The defined area is selected by the alerting authorities. Compatible wireless devices in the targeted area will receive the emergency alerts within seconds of alert issuance, provided the phones are powered on and connected to the LTE cellular network. You cannot opt out of receiving threat-to-life emergency alerts. Emergency alerts begin with a distinct sound, known as the Canadian Alert Attention Signal. Emergency alerts sent to compatible wireless devices may also cause the phone to vibrate. On compatible wireless devices, the emergency alert will display an “EMERGENCY ALERT/ALERTE D’URGENCE” banner, followed by text that describes the situation and provides instructions on what actions to take and where to find more information. At the top of each emergency alert, the issuing government agency will be clearly indicated. The questions you may ask... Who sends emergency alerts? Federal, provincial, and territorial governments are responsible for issuing emergency alerts. Federally, emergency alerts are issued most frequently by Environment and Climate Change Canada. Each provincial or territorial government decides who will have the authority to issue alerts within their jurisdictions. For example, emergency alerts could be issued by provincial or territorial emergency management offices or in some cases by municipal emergency management offices or local police and fire departments. Media companies, including television, radio stations, cable and satellite distributors, as well as websites receive these emergency alerts and relay them to their consumers. Beginning April 6 2018, wireless service providers will be capable of distributing emergency alerts received from alerting authorities directly to their consumers’ compatible wireless devices connected to LTE networks using Cell Broadcast distribution. What types of emergency alerts are issued via Alert Ready? The Alert Ready system allows alerting authorities from federal, provincial and territorial governments to issue a wide range of public safety messages. However, broadcasters and wireless service providers are only required to distribute emergency alerts for situations that pose an immediate threat-to-life. Government officials developed and agreed on a specific list of the types of alerts that are considered a threat-to-life and should be distributed immediately, interrupting radio and television broadcasts. These “Broadcast Immediately” emergency alerts have the highest level of severity, urgency and certainty. For a full list, visit the Alert Typessection of the website. Issuing alerts outside of this list (for example heavy rainfall or blizzard warnings) is at the discretion of each of the broadcasters. Wireless service providers will only receive and relay messages that are issued for threat-to-life situations. Will emergency alerts be for my specific area? Yes. The alerting authority determines what areas are affected by an incident, weather or environmental situation, and uses a standard system that will typically correspond with municipal, regional or provincial boundaries. The standardized system will allow participating radio, television, cable and satellite companies to broadcast the emergency alerts that are most relevant to the communities they serve. Emergency alerts intended for wireless devices are issued to a defined geographic area, which can be as small as a few city blocks, so that only people in the defined area receive the emergency alerts. Compatible wireless devices in the targeted area will receive the emergency alerts within seconds of being issued, provided the phones are powered on and connected to the LTE cellular network. Will all wireless devices receive emergency alerts? No. In order for emergency alerts to be received on a wireless device three conditions must be met. The wireless device must be: An LTE-device like a smartphone (LTE is commonly referred to as “4G LTE”); Wireless public alerting (WPA)-compatible- see question #5; Connected to an LTE cellular network at the time the emergency alert is issued, or joins the network while the alert is still active. What does it mean to have a wireless device that is WPA-compatible? A wireless device that is WPA-compatible is: an LTE-device, and has special software embedded in it which allows for messages sent by your service provider, via Cell Broadcast, to be received in the standard Alert Ready format. Emergency alerts that meet the Alert Ready format allow you to know when an alert is received (because of the sound and vibration), and also provides confirmation that it is issued by a legitimate sources. Visit the Wirelesssectionof AlertReady.ca to find a link to the section of your wireless service provider’s website that provides information on compatible devices. Are these emergency alerts sent as a text message? No. While the emergency alert may look like a text message it is not a text message. Emergency alerts are sent via Cell Broadcast distribution. Cell Broadcast is a mobile technology that allowsmessagesto bebroadcastto all compatible wireless devices within a designated geographical area.Cell Broadcastis designed for simultaneous message delivery to multiple users in a specified area, and is not affected by network congestion because it uses dedicated part of the network, different from that used for traditional voice and data traffic. Cell Broadcast can be compared to radio broadcast. Radio towers broadcast music to people in defined geographic areas as long as the individuals can pick-up the broadcast signal and have their radios turned on. Similarly, Cell Broadcast messages are delivered to those compatible wireless devices that are within range of cell towers and antennas in the designated area. Are other mobile devices (e.g. tablets) capable of receiving emergency alerts? Wireless service providers are required to distribute Emergency alerts to compatible smartphones that can access LTE (cellular) networks. Additional wireless devices – such as tablets and wearable accessories (e.g. smartwatches) – may be capable, from a technical perspective, to receive some form of the message, but it will not necessarily be received on the device in the Alert Ready format. For information on compatible wireless devices offered by your wireless service provider, visit the Wirelesssectionof AlertReady.ca. Will emergency alerts interrupt or end a voice-call or another activity in progress? Emergency alerts will not end or terminate a voice call or data session in progress. If you are on a voice call when the emergency alert is received, you will be made aware of the alert by a notification tone (similar to call waiting). When your call terminates the alert will be displayed on your wireless device. If you are on a data session, the emergency alert will briefly interrupt your data session will continue but it may be briefly interrupted by the emergency alert appearing on your wireless device screen. Will I receive an emergency alert if my wireless device is off or set to silent? A compatible wireless device that is turned off, or is in Airplane Mode, will not display an emergency alert. If the emergency alert is still active when the wireless device is powered on, and the user is still in the alert area, the wireless device will then display the alert. A compatible wireless device that is set to silent will display an emergency alert, but you might not hear the emergency alert sound. The emergency alert sound will usually play at whatever the current volume setting is on the wireless device, so if your wireless device is set to silent, no sound will accompany the emergency alert message. However, this behaviour can differ depending on your wireless device and in some instances the alert sound may override your user settings. If my wireless device is off for an extended period of time, will the emergency alert appear once I turn my phone back on? If the emergency alert is still active when the compatible wireless device is turned back on, and you are within the emergency alert area, the emergency alert will be displayed. If the emergency alert is no longer active or if you have travelled outside of the alert area, it will not be displayed. Will I receive an emergency alert if my phone is connected to Wi-Fi? While on Wi-Fi, if the compatible wireless device can still communicate with the LTE cellular network, it will receive emergency alerts. If the wireless device is not within reach of the LTE cellular network (or is set to Wi-Fi only) it will not receive an emergency alert. What should I do if I receive a test alert on my wireless device? Test alert messages will be identified as such. These messages are intended to “test” the functionality of the system, and inform consumer of wireless emergency alerts, and do not require the consumer to take steps to secure their safety. You may be required to acknowledge receipt of the emergency alert in order to allow for your wireless device to resume normal functioning. In the event that you cannot acknowledge the alert, the alert sound and vibration will continue for 8 seconds. Depending on your specific wireless device, additional reminders may occur. What should I do if I receive an emergency alert on my wireless device? Upon receiving the emergency alert it is important to take action safely. Stop what you are doing when it is safe to do so and read the emergency alert. Government officials will include, within the emergency alert, the information you need for any action you need to take. This could include but is not limited to: limit unnecessary travel, evacuate the areas, seek shelter, etc. What should I do if I receive an emergency alert on my wireless device while driving? It is important to take action safely, especially if the emergency alert is received while operating a vehicle. If you are driving, it is important to remain calm and pull over at your earliest opportunity to view the emergency alert. Will I be charged if I receive an emergency alert on my wireless device if I don’t have unlimited texting or data within my mobile plan? Wireless alerts are sent on a specific cellular channel that is separate from normal text and data traffic. While the alerts may look like text messages, they are not text messages and are not billed like text messages. Also, emergency alerts are sent to wireless devices in a specific geographic area and do not require the phone numbers of those devices. As such there is no ability to identify or bill for the messages that are received. Can I opt out of receiving emergency alerts on my wireless device? No. Emergency alerts received on your compatible wireless device are relevant to you and require immediate attention, and government regulations mandate that all compatible wireless devices receive all relevant alerts. Unlike radio and television broadcasting, which often has broad areas of coverage; wireless public alerting is geo-targeted and can be very specific to a limited area of coverage. As a result, if an emergency alert reaches your wireless device, you are located in an area where there is an imminent danger. Will I receive emergency alerts on my wireless device if I’m travelling to or from another province or jurisdiction within Canada? Yes. Emergency alerts are issued to a defined geographic area, such that only people in the defined area will receive the emergency alerts. If you are travelling and happen to be in another province when an emergency alert is issued, your compatible wireless device will receive the emergency alert within seconds of being issued, provided your phone is powered on and connected to the LTE cellular network. Will I receive emergency alerts on my wireless device relevant to where I live while I am travelling away from home? No. If you are travelling, you will only receive emergency alerts that occur where you are. Canadians can keep track of emergency alerts occurring in specific areas (e.g. where they or other family members live) through a number of available apps and online services. Will I still receive emergency alerts if wireless device towers are affected by the situation? Emergency alerts are broadcast from cellular towers and antennas within the area specified by the alert issuer. Compatible wireless devices connected to the specified towers/antennas will receive the emergency alert. The towers/antennas therefore must be operational to send emergency alerts. If you are in an affected area but your wireless device is unable to connect to any towers/antennas because of the situation, you will not receive the emergency alert on your wireless device. Will alerts sent to my wireless device be used to gather data about me? No. Emergency alerts are sent using Cell Broadcast distribution. Cell Broadcast can only transmit information to your wireless device. This means that no data is being gathered about you, your wireless device or your location when emergency alerts are sent out. More questions? Ask them on our forum, we will answer you!Is your child ready for screen time?
How parents can get it right. Screens are everywhere. They cut across all social classes and all lines of work. From morning to night—and sometimes night to morning—electronic devices keep us connected and informed. It’s gotten to the point that we can’t imagine living without them. We’ve become reliant on things like an electronic agenda, software and apps, video games, Netflix, selfies, online vacation bookings and digital newspapers. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! Whether it’s for work or play, entertainment or convenience, we access a wide range of highly visual and interactive content through our smart TVs, laptops, mobile phones and tablets. Like it or not, the digital era isn’t going to go away. But the issue gets a lot more complicated when it comes to kids. We’re all aware of the risks of overusing or misusing electronic devices and, as parents, we all want what’s best for our kids. According to current guidelines, children should be encouraged to use digital technology appropriately. Otherwise they may feel frustrated or excluded from interactions with friends and family. Clearly, you don’t want to hinder their development or leave them wondering why you have access to electronics while they don’t. To make sure kids use screens responsibly, parents need to set clear rules and time limits. Need a hand with Digital Education 2.0? Here are a few pointers: First, figure out what worries you about letting kids use digital devices. Is it exposure to violence, wasted time, reduced creativity, eating disorders, a sedentary lifestyle, screen addiction, anxiety, social conflicts or falling grades? Next, seek out information on the topic by browsing the Internet, reading articles, talking to other parents who have already been through this or consulting with a professional. The “3-6-9-12” rule, developed by French psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Serge Tisseron, has been widely embraced by young parents. In a nutshell, it recommends: No TV before age 3. No video games before age 6. No unsupervised Internet use before age 9. No social media before age 12. Before you lay down rules, talk to your kids to find out why they’re interested in using electronic devices. This will give you a better idea of their relationship with screens and what they hope to get from using a tablet, mobile phone or television. Typically, kids think that screens can offer opportunities for escape, learning, entertainment, freedom and social connections. Once you’ve clarified what their needs are and what benefits they’re looking for, you can establish rules to ensure that your child maintains a healthy and balanced relationship with screens. When using a device for the first time, children should not be left to navigate the experience alone. Television and the Internet can be great, but they also provide access to images and messages that aren’t suitable for kids. That’s why it’s important to sit with your son or daughter when they watch TV for the first time. Familiarize yourself with the parental controls on internet-enabled devices and make sure you install a family-friendly search engine to block content that’s not suitable for your child’s age. Kidoz, Webjuniors, Xooloo and Wikimini are good choices. Finally, limit your child’s access to screens and establish clear time limits for using them. This is very important. For example, consider creating a weekly schedule that outlines the days and time periods that your kids are allowed to use electronic devices. Rules are also needed for playing electronic games, watching movies and using the Internet or social media. It may also be a good idea to create a separate user account for your child, with you as the administrator. Don’t forget to configure the parental controls to ensure that your usage limits are respected. In 2019, living without screens is unrealistic. The key is to strike a balance so that your kids can enjoy the benefits of digital devices while developing a healthy relationship with screens. And remember, you’ve got to set a good example! Looking for a new tablet? Get a Samsung tablet and a 3 Gb Tablet plan for $0, with a subscription to 2 Premium Mobile plans (each with a 24-month agreement) and the purchase of 2 Samsung phones.Stay connected
Here are a few helpful articles during the confinement period. Helix, what does it offer exactly? Helix offers more than just entertainment. It adapts to your connected life to brighten it and make it easier in many ways, while allowing you to manage your services yourself. Discover everything Helix has to offer!... Helix offers more Wi-Fi calling, the perfect solution for flawless reception quality At a time where we’re spending a lot of time at home or where teleworking is starting to become the norm for companies and slowly winning over every generation, having impeccable mobile phone reception everywhere in your house is a necessity... The ideal solution Advice and Tips for Avoiding Internet Fraud In today’s environment, when most of us spend many hours on the computer for telework or entertainment, it’s important to remember best practices to avoid fraud and traps online... Advice and Tips Did you know that you’re in full control of your Videotron services? In the middle of this confinement period, where you have to stay at home as much as possible and limit non-essential travel, you have the ability to change or pay for Videotron services by yourself... How to be in control Tips for a Safe Return : Are you coming home from Florida, a trip down south or from studying abroad? We are with you as you are subject to the mandatory 14-day self-quarantine... How to adapt returning home from abroad Keeping busy to keep seeing the bright side : The COVID-19 pandemic that’s keeping use home is no reason to go around in circles... How to entertain yourself at home Teleworking : During this isolation period, the majority of employees who can still enjoy working are doing it from home – this is our case in the Videotron Web department. Some of us are available part time due to our family responsibilities, while others are giving more than they’ve got... Make the mostourof your workday from home. Rebooting your router When one or several of your devices is lagging, a simple device reboot, starting with your router, can help solve most problems... 5 solutions to enjoy the best home Internet speeds. Phishing attempts on the rise : The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security has unfortunately noticed an increase in phishing campaigns regarding the COVID-19 among businesses and individuals (our customers)... Vidéotron remains on alert and has taken action to stop these campaigns. Changing TV Channels 101 Say goodbye to the same old routine! Did you know that you can switch the channels in your cable TV plan whenever you’re craving something new?... Modify your channels directly on your TV in a few steps. Messaging apps: Messaging apps are incredibly popular. In fact, WhatsApp, Skype, Messenger and the like have been downloaded billions of times... What are thedifferencesand which is best for you? Audio app : While the status of traditional on-air radio is increasingly precarious, each day brings new applications and other online platforms designed for sharing audio content... Everything you need to know to listen to what you want. Kids & Screens: That’s what most of us say when we don’t want our kids to use our mobile devices... A few pointers to ensure kids use screens responsibly. Mobile phone during the pandemic : We’re all confined during the COVID-19 pandemic, your already useful phone is proving to be a valuable tool to keep you informed and connected to your work, family and friends... Make time fly, without going over your data Videotron is committed to supporting you every day and simplifying your life during these unprecedented times. Learn more.“My phone is not a toy!”
That’s what most of us say when we don’t want our kids to use our mobile devices. And it’s true, a $700 phone is definitely not a toy. That said, phones and tables are undeniably a source of entertainment for children. The occasional cartoon, a game now and then… Kids are increasingly comfortable with technology and are very skilled at using electronic devices. When they play under parental supervision, there’s no problem. But the truth of the matter is that we often hand over our cell phones when we need to occupy little ones as we rush to finish the dishes or change the younger sibling’s diaper. It’s also a go-to solution for long car rides or when confined home. You may be glad to know that you can limit how your phone is used by deactivating features and restricting access to certain applications. All this results in a “safer” environment for your kids. Here are a few free solutions that you might find useful. Apple owners will be interested in a cool feature that can temporarily turn your device into a single application: Guided Access. It’s great because young users can’t open anything that hasn’t been authorized by you. All they get is one game or application (like YouTube), and if they want to access something else, they will need your passcode or fingerprint. To access this feature, go to: Settings > General > Accessibility > Guided Access. You’ll notice that Guided Access offers other types of configurations, such as disabling certain commands or areas of your screen. It’s up to you to decide what you’d like to lock your kids out of. Android offers several different application management options. Samsung’s Kids Mode, which is available in the Play Store (where you buy apps for Android phones and tablets), allows you to set limits on how your device is used and decide which content your children can access. Obviously, the user can’t exit this mode without your PIN. Play Store actually has many applications that provide parental control. Note that free applications sometimes play ads or prompt you to pay for the “premium” version. Take the time to test the app before passing it over to your son or daughter. One thing is for sure: if you give an Android phone or tablet to your child, make sure you restrict downloads in Play Store to age-appropriate content. You can do this by going to: Play Store: Menu > Settings > Parental control. When you activate Parental control, you will have to create a PIN and select the right classification level for games and apps. Google has also just released FAMILY LINK, a new app that helps you analyze and supervise device usage. How much time does your child spend in front of the screen? What are their favourite apps? FAMILY LINK can even lock the device at certain times of day or manage purchases. Finally, it’s helpful to remember that kids are supposed to be bored sometimes. Letting them use your phone while they wait for the adults to finish eating might seem like an easy and practical solution, but idle time may also help develop their creativity 😉 Best of luck!Your phone to make time fly, without going over your data cap!
We’re all confined during the COVID-19 pandemic, your already useful phone is proving to be a valuable tool to keep you informed and connected to your work, family and friends. More importantly, it’s easy to entertain yourself with it, especially when your TV has been taken over by your kids or partner! Stay informed without going over You probably already had habits with your phone, but now that you have more time to stay informed about the latest developments in this Coronavirus crisis, be careful not to go over your mobile plan’s data cap. To avoid additional fees, you can: Make sure you are connected to your home Wi-Fi network if you have one and also activate Wi-Fi Calling on your smartphone to optimize receiving calls at home. If you don’t have home Wi-Fi, you can easily add a data block online in the User Centre + app, without having to contact our customer service. Check your data use in the User Centre + app to see how much you’ve used and what you have left before reaching your cap. Lower the quality of YouTube videos you’re watching. All you have to do is click on the Settings icon in the bottom right of the video and choose the option. Connecting to the world Keep your social habits by staying connected to the outside world using messaging and video conferencing apps on your phone. They will allow you to virtually attend work meetings, get news from your friends and family, check in on your older loved ones and celebrate birthdays remotely. Have fun exploring Being able to entertain yourself will keep your spirits up as you make it through this confinement period. Use this opportunity to discover new music and emerging artists or jump back into your favourite playlists that will make you lose track of time. Find the best music app for your tastes and needs, whether it’s a family dance night or a moment of Zen relaxation! Radio stations and digital radio stations like QUB radio can be there with you with music and news throughout the day. All video content platforms offered on mobile device will provide you with entertainment at any time. You will not only be able to watch live TV channels, but also a wealth of on-demand content and all your recordings directly on your mobile device with the Helix app. Try to see the good parts of this confinement period and find happiness in staying home!
