Israeli military to launch missile strike alert app

JERUSALEM, March 4 (UPI) -- The Israeli military said it is soon releasing a smart phone application that will allow users to receive emergency alerts for missile strikes.

The application, called iOref, is being created by the Israeli military's Home Front Command and is scheduled for general release by the end of June, the Jerusalem Post reported Tuesday.

Application users will receive notifications to head for protected zones in the event of a nearby missile strike. The alerts are sent out based on location data collected from smart phones' Global Positioning Systems.

Users will also be able to receive videos, photos and text messages through the application, said Brig.-Gen. Levi Yitah, head of the Alerts Branch at the Home Front. The application will also be made available for computers.

"I want the alert to reach users in as many places as possible as quickly as possible," Yitah said.