16:24 GMT, January 14, 2010 SAN MATEO, Calif. | AtHoc, Inc., the pioneer and leader in network-centric mass notification systems, today announced the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) has deployed AtHoc IWSAlerts™ for its nationwide emergency notification solution. More than 100 USCG facilities, ranging from headquarters, to districts, down to every sector and local station, will use the system which has the capability to reach 50,000 USCG personnel and maritime industry members.

The USCG's Alert and Warning System (AWS) was initially developed to transmit maritime security notifications and receive confirmations from maritime security partners and stakeholders as required by the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002. AWS is undergoing significant changes to provide greater usability and functionality and to support additional USCG missions – hurricane preparedness, natural disasters, personnel recalls, search and rescue operations, and waterway closure. The AtHoc solution will support the next generation of AWS for all Coast Guard missions and provide additional capabilities and services to the USCG and maritime partners to enhance maritime safety and security.

AtHoc's enterprise-wide architecture allows deployment in a centralized data center to support the 100 different USCG locations. Each location can have its own local account and maintain information securely on an internal network. The unified approach of the AtHoc system provides centralized alert activation, control and management from a Web-based console.

AtHoc IWSAlerts will deliver emergency alerts over multiple channels, such as voice (via public switched telephone network), landlines, cellular and satellite phone, e-mail, SMS and fax to recipients in dispersed geographical areas or individual units throughout the USCG. Personnel accountability will be accomplished by tracking and managing user responses to alert notifications in real time.

The AtHoc solution is integrated with "Homeport," the Coast Guard's Internet portal. Homeport supports the secure information-sharing requirements established by the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002. Complete, seamless and continuous integration will occur between the AtHoc solution and the USCG's user directories through the application of open standards such as the Local Directory Access Protocol and Active Directory.

"The U.S. Coast Guard's deployment of AtHoc's network-centric mass notification solution as its enterprise standard reaffirms the power and flexibility of the AtHoc IWSAlerts platform, as was proven by AtHoc's extensive DoD deployment," said Guy Miasnik, president and CEO of AtHoc. "The Coast Guard sought a reliable, enterprise-wide solution that could disseminate sensitive but unclassified alerts to its personnel, maritime industry partners and other government agencies, rapidly and with high confidence. Given the USCG's leading role in national security and homeland defense, AtHoc is honored to be selected as the mass notification solution partner to provide these critical capabilities that are needed to carry out USCG's important mission."