TuneIn is teaming up with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System to deliver emergency alerts through its Android Auto TuneIn app.
The streaming audio platform heralded the announcement as an “important step forward as the industry shifts toward digital-first audio experiences.”
“TuneIn’s internet-based service delivers reliable audio quality and broader coverage than traditional radio, especially in areas where terrestrial signals may be limited,” a release said.
The feature offers IPAWS alerts from the local, state, tribal and federal agency level to TuneIn users in affected areas. It is available to auto manufacturers that integrate TuneIn as part of their vehicle infotainment systems through Android Auto.
A TuneIn spokesperson said the company has no specifics for motorists who use Apple CarPlay for infotainment or phone projection. The spokesperson added that the company is exploring all options.
Edison Research said that as of this year, 40% of Americans who have driven or ridden in a car in the last month have either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto in their primary vehicle.
[Related: “FEMA Promises Support for New MEP Code”]
Android Auto alerts are geo-targeted and tiered by severity. Lower-level threats trigger visual notifications, TuneIn said, while more serious emergencies interrupt the stream with both audio and on-screen alerts.
This includes severe weather warnings and alerts pertaining to natural disasters.
TuneIn said the feature is designed to give automotive OEMs a “simple, cost-effective way” to support public safety updates in infotainment systems.
