Welland, ON., March 30, 2004 – When a crisis occurs at a commercial airport, how do officials communicate quickly and efficiently with emergency response teams, reporters, regulators and the public? e-commatrix.com® inc., a whollyowned subsidiary of Andromeda Media Capital Corporation Limited, and its partner The Manahan Group (TMG), an advertising and public relations firm located in West Virginia, USA, unveiled today a new online communications system – AirAlertTM – that will revolutionize crisis response at airports in the United States and Canada. The company also plans to launch the product in the United Kingdom and internationally at a future date.
AirAlertTM, the first release in the Crisis Communication Management Suite, is a powerful web-based communications solution for airports, enabling managers to quickly communicate important information to multiple audiences simultaneously. “ AirAlertTM provides travelers, government regulators, emergency response groups, citizens and the media with comprehensive, up-to-the-minute information," said Albert Iannantuono, President, ecommatrix.com ® inc.
"In a crisis, AirAlertTM becomes a single, trustworthy source and point of contact - freeing managers to address the situation at hand."
“AirAlertTM is designed so that one airport official can manage a streamlined communications system during a crisis and communicate with all relevant stakeholders in real-time,” said George Manahan, CEO of The Manahan Group. Manahan spoke to participants at the 4th International Symposium on Aviation Emergencies in Weehawken, NJ.
The beta version of AirAlertTM was recently developed and delivered to Yeager Airport in Charleston, W. Va. and is now available to airports in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Mexico.
In the U.S., airports can be reimbursed for up to 90 percent of AirAle rt’sTM cost through the Federal Aviation Administration grant program.
Manahan said the AirAlertTM system is designed to send anyone seeking information regarding the airport emergency to a crisis-specific web site. The goal of the product is to free up communication manager(s) from constant phone calls and requests for duplicative information. Once the response is posted on the web site, everyone, including reporters, travelers and regulators, has the ability to access it.
The AirAlertTM system will allow airport managers to:
§ Immediately contact the airport’s crisis management team through just about any communication device, including pager, text messaging, e-mail, PDA or telephone
§ Allow the airport’s Emergency Operations Committee members to securely communicate with each other during a crisis
§ Send e-Alerts detailing the incident and any updates in the incident to pre-established lists of internal and external audiences
§ Manage an airport-specific web site where reporters, travelers, citizens and others can access the latest information during the crisis.
“Today, airports must be able to communicate with many different groups fast and efficiently,” said Yeager Airport Director Rick Atkinson. “The AirAlertTM system is the first product I’ve seen that accomplishes all of the communication goals of airports.”
Andromeda, through its wholly owned subsidiary, e-commatrix.com® inc., is focused on providing breakthrough eBusiness and eCommerce proprietary products and services. These products are introduced to market through an international network of licensed partners as complimentary product lines to their existing solutions, and under a progressive revenue-sharing model. e-commatrix.com® inc. aggressively sources new partners worldwide.
The Manahan Group provides advertising, public relations and crisis communication solutions for its clients. The firm specializes in transportation, tourism, health care and social marketing. Issued and outstanding capitalization as at February 25, 2004 – 30,559,250 (pre -consolidated) 3,395,472 (postconsolidated) common shares.
On February 17, 2004, the shareholders of Andromeda Media Capital Corporation approved a consolidation of its shares on a nine (9) for one (1) basis.No stock exchanges have reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this press release.
Certain statements contained herein constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and 21E of the Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding business and financing, business trends, and future operating revenues and expenses. Statements regarding the aforementioned are based on several assumptions and are not to be considered fact. Although Andromeda Media Capital Corporation Limited and e-commatrix.com® inc. believe that the statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that such expectation will prove to be correct. Investors are cautioned that any forward-looking statements made by Andromeda Media Capital Corporation Limited or e-commatrix.com® inc. contain no guarantee of future performance and that actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. For additional information see the reports filed by the company in its securities filings with applicable securities regulators (currently available at www.sedar.com). Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, Andromeda disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.