ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, March 23 /PRNewswire/ -- In an emergency, notifying key responders has traditionally been a slow, labor-intensive manual task, given that an operator or dispatcher can, on average, speak to only one responder per minute via telephone. Now Human Resources Technologies, Inc.(HRTec, http://www.hrtec.net), a leading telecommunications and Internet provider, has released MercAlert, a web-based, broadcast voice notification network designed to streamline critical communications.

The powerful, centrally activated application securely distributes critical or routine text notification messages via voice using global Internet and telephony networks. Thanks to MercAlert's simple, password-protected interface, a user can create or recall a phone list, enter or select a pre-defined text message, and rapidly send the notification to all recipients - from virtually anywhere in the world.

MercAlert then translates the original text message to voice and delivers it to those with voice-activated PDAs, telephones or Blackberries(R). The system can also notify the sender of message delivery and receipt.

"MercAlert was developed to address the need for a response system with rapid alert broadcasting and large-scale deployment capabilities," explained John Ellerbe, HRTec technical project manager. "It is designed for critical communications by all levels of government, public service departments, first responders, military defense, schools, transportation providers,corporations, and the general public."

Because MercAlert is web-based, no costly hardware or software is required. Mindful of the need for swift communication in an emergency situation, HRTec developers kept MercAlert clear of extra features that are not likely to be required or used during a situational crisis. Instead, said Ellerbe, the application minimizes the notification setup process and maximizes delivery speed.

"MercAlert is a cost-effective solution that provides reliability, reduced labor, and increased efficiency and productivity," said Ellerbe. "In a critical situation, that means quicker responses and a lower incidence of lag time."

About HRTec

Since 1986, HRTec has provided a worldwide human resources telecommunications network with an unmatched history of reliability and support. The company provides fast, reliable, secure communications for the U.S. Air Force, Royal Air Force, and most recently, the Royal Navy.

CONTACT: CONTACT: (United States) (United Kingdom) John Ellerbe Hugh Milroy Human Resources Technologies, Inc. Malcolm Davidge Associates (MDA) +1-703-719-0778 +44(0)787-6345100 jellerbe@hrtec.net whm@mdanetwork.com http://www.hrtec.net http://www.mdanetwork.com

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Web site: http://www.hrtec.net

(United States) John Ellerbe, Human Resources Technologies, Inc., +1-703-719-0778, jellerbe@hrtec.net; or (United Kingdom) Hugh Milroy, Malcolm Davidge Associates (MDA), +44(0) 787-6345100, whm@mdanetwork.com