The Thai government is working on a Cell Broadcast system to send emergency alerts to mobile phones. This system is designed to warn people of natural disasters and other dangers. The government has been talking to phone companies like Apple to make sure their devices can receive these alerts.
But there’s a problem with Apple’s devices. They don’t support Cell Broadcast, which means iPhone users might not get these important warnings. This is because Apple’s system is set up differently than Android devices. On Android phones, like Samsung, there’s a special menu for receiving emergency messages. But on iPhones sold in Thailand, this menu is hidden.
The government wants to fix this issue. They’ve met with Apple to discuss how to make iPhones work with the Cell Broadcast system. But for now, it’s unclear if Apple will make the necessary changes. If they don’t, iPhone users might miss out on critical emergency alerts.
The Thai prime minister, Pheu Thai Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat’s government, says the Cell Broadcast system will be ready by July. But until then, the government will use a temporary system to send alerts to Android devices. For iOS devices, they’ll use SMS instead.
What’s holding Apple back?
According to tech expert “Peter Kua”, the problem lies in the iPhone’s settings. The “Carrier Profile setting” is not enabled on iPhones sold in Thailand, which means they can’t receive Cell Broadcast messages. This setting is usually controlled by the phone’s carrier, but in Thailand, it’s not available.
For Android devices, the process is simpler. They have a built-in menu for receiving emergency messages, which makes it easier for them to work with the Cell Broadcast system.
A possible solution?
To fix the issue, Apple would need to update their system to support Cell Broadcast. But it’s unclear if they’re willing to make this change. The government is waiting to see if Apple will cooperate.
In the meantime, iPhone users in Thailand might not receive critical emergency alerts. The government is working on a temporary solution, but it’s not clear if it will be enough.
Only time will tell if Apple will make the necessary changes to support the Cell Broadcast system. Until then, iPhone users in Thailand will have to wait and see if they’ll be able to receive these important emergency alerts.
