A nationwide alert system will be put in place for mobile phones, enabling the Federal Communications Commission to send text messages in emergency situations to people’s cell phones as part of the plan approved by federal regulators on Wednesday. The need of putting in place an emergency alert system by using text messages should prove useful considering the increasing popularity of text messaging, FCC said.

Chairman Kevin J. Martin said upon the announcement that the more the public relies on wireless communication, the more important it is to be able to share critical information in times of crisis. A Commercial Mobile Alert System should prove effective for ensuring public safety and welfare throughout the US.

“The ability to deliver accurate and timely warnings and alerts through cell phones and other mobile devices is an important next step in our efforts to help ensure that the American public has the information they need to take action to protect themselves and their families prior to, and during, disasters and other emergencies,” said Martin in a prepared statement.

The plan was created in compliance with the Warning, Alert and Response Network Act (WARN Act) of 2006, and was based on the recommendations of the Commercial Mobile Service Alert Advisory Committee (CMSAAC) for the transmission of emergency messages to the public.

“By adopting technical requirements for the wireless alerting system today, we are enabling wireless providers that choose to participate in this system to begin designing their networks to deliver mobile alerts, said Martin, adding that “this system has the potential to significantly impact the way Americans receive critical warnings on the go, whether they are at home, work or vacationing.”

The text messages will include presidential alerts, imminent threat alerts and child abduction emergency/AMBER alerts, federal regulators said. Wireless carriers that choose to participate in the program will send text messages at first, but things might evolve and include video and audio services in case of emergency (that depends of course on the technological advance).