• New: Test mode lets you demo the Pulse and Watchdog service for free
• New: Account profile management from the Settings icon
• New: Free parking meter reminder with location marking to find your car
• Streamlined adding contacts to your safety net when creating a plert
• Fixed the RSS feeds from the US Department of Travel and UK Commonwealth Office
• Misc bug fixes

Download it now! http://iphone.plerts.mobi

Checking In Via Email

When checking via email, you must use the email address associated with your account otherwise it will be ignored. Just like checking in on the website or through the mobile phone, you have an option to attach a check in message. Sending a blank email checks you in, but does not notify your safety net. Do not to alter the subject line as it includes important information required to check you in.

Responding To An Alert

Released today is the ability for your social safety net to broadcast a response to an alert by replying to the email they receive. Their replies will be sent back to you and amongst your safety net via email, SMS, and push notification to facilitate teamwork, and assures you that your safety net is responding.

What is Plerts?

Plerts is a flexible personal alert service focused on accessibility, geographic location, and privacy. Our first product suite released today targets medical and personal safety and is available as a free download on the iTunes AppStore, Facebook App platform, and as a traditional web app.

What problems has Plerts solved?

Risk is underlying factor in the decision process of a person’s life. For thrill seekers it’s a boost of courage, for others it can hinder a person from experiencing positive and rewarding actions. We believe by providing a private and reliable safety net, we can give people peace of mind when deciding to participate in activities like going on an internet date, buying an item off craigslist, traveling overseas, or skiing solo down a black-diamond route in Colorado.

GPS tracking has been around for years but requires additional hardware, impractical for every day life, and offers limited utility. While efficient at tracking location coordinates, GPS tracking lacks situational context. It’s virtually impossible to know if you’re having a cup of tea or unconscious due to an adverse drug reaction. Furthermore, GPS tracking is most effective when someone else is monitoring your every move which violates your privacy.

We’ve also addressed the high cost of existing services with innovative technology. GPS and life alert products are expensive because they are based on proprietary hardware and require additional subscription fees, significantly impacting the accessibility of the service. These shortcomings make it inconvenient and impractical when one needs an added layer of confidence for life’s adventures without jeopardizing privacy or breaking their bank.

What makes Plerts unique?

Plerts designed a time-centric check in system around a user’s intuition perceiving danger and risk. Using Plerts can be completely private and does not require a “big brother” to be effective, and we are not a location-based social network. Creating a plert is quick, convenient, and takes less than 30 seconds.

1. Set the duration and alert message.
2. Select your social safety net.
3. Press Activate!

Creating a plert and checking in can be absolutely private — nobody ever has to know. If you fail to check in, then your social safety net is instantly alerted via email, SMS, Facebook, and/or Twitter regardless of what happens to you or your device.

How much does Plerts cost?

Plerts’ unique technology platform makes our product extremely affordable compared to existing services. Emergency alert service and mobile software loaded with extra features such as location marking, broadcasting, and reminders — all for free. Premium features, such as Watchdog and Pulses, cost $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year. Visit our pricing page for more information.

Tell us what you need!

Thank you for your interest in Plerts, this is only the beginning so don’t forget to send us your feedback and feature requests so we can continue to improve the product in line with your needs. Subscribe to our RSS feed, follow us on Twitter, or add us as a fan on Facebook to get the latest news.

In 2007, social media hit critical mass marked by a new phenomenon of sharing. By no surprise identity theft is up 37% since 2007, and has affected 11.1 million people in the United States alone. Unfortunately, privacy is not fully appreciated until it’s violated, and the consequences and inconveniences are felt for years to come. Identity theft can make it extremely difficult to apply for jobs or secure a mortgage to buy a house.

As full-featured smart phones reach critical mass, the social web is embracing geographic location in status updates. Popular location-based networks like Gowalla and Foursquare recently expanded their service with the release of public APIs. While it’s certainly fascinating to watch location interaction, the information that’s publicly available can be unsettling.

It’s important social services address the privacy issue head on. Sites like PleaseRobMe.com illustrate the fundamental issue, but scrape the surface of a deeper and more complex problem. Depending on a person’s level of participation and habits across various networks, it’s possible to locate their home and work address, employment history (LinkedIn), family and pet names, favorite hobbies and entertainment (Facebook/MySpace), location they last shopped (Gowalla/Foursquare), and even the exact amount they spent (Blippy). All of above are the root answers for common security questions protecting private information such as bank accounts, credit cards, email security, health records, and other personal details.

If you’re interested in privacy, over-sharing, and the social web, please visit the following websites for more information:

• Identity Theft – http://www.fightidentitytheft.com
• Location Privacy – http://www.eff.org
• Over-sharing & Location Awareness – http://www.cdt.org