Google announced on 15 October that Android’s earthquake alert system is growing from 98 to more than 200 countries and regions. Newly added areas include Panama and Guatemala. The service, which uses smartphones themselves as a detection network, has sent more than a billion alerts since its debut in 2021.
What changes in practice
The expansion began on the day of the announcement. Google says alerts should be fully active within a week in the newly covered regions. For people who already have the service, nothing changes: the news mainly concerns those who live in seismic areas that were previously excluded.
In its announcement, Google did not list Italy or Switzerland among the areas mentioned. To find out whether your country is covered, the company points to the support page that lists the active zones.
How it works
Where there are no public seismic networks linked to the service, Android relies on smartphone accelerometers. When many nearby phones register vibrations consistent with an earthquake, the system estimates the event and sends the alert to other phones in the area, a few seconds ahead of the shaking.
In some parts of the United States, including California, Washington and Oregon, the alerts instead use data from ShakeAlert, a network of 1,675 seismic sensors, as Thurrott reports.
There are three types of alert:
- Be Aware: a light tremor has been detected.
- Be Ready: stronger shaking is expected and it is worth preparing.
- Take Action: a full-screen alert for moderate to strong shaking, with immediate instructions on what to do.
The “Be Ready” alert will become more useful
Over the coming months Google will update the middle tier. The alert will show a map of the area where the shaking was detected, the estimated magnitude, recommended actions and a button to find out more, with information that updates as events unfold. Google has not given a precise release date.
Who it matters to
For Android users in Italy, the news is a signal rather than a practical change: the country is seismic and a service of this kind would be useful, but nothing in the announcement suggests it is among the new areas. To check coverage, you need to consult Google’s support page. If you are travelling in Central America or in other newly added regions, though, the expansion could make all the difference.
What we think
A system based on phone accelerometers has an obvious limit: the more phones there are, the more reliable it is. Extending coverage to more than 200 regions is therefore a good step, but the quality of the alert will depend on the density of Android devices in each area, not simply on the service appearing on the list.
We are more convinced by the “Be Ready” announcement. Today the intermediate alert says little; a map and an estimated magnitude make it possible to tell whether the shaking really concerns the person receiving it and whether they need to take cover. It remains to be seen how quickly detection will turn into an alert: with only a few seconds to spare, every delay counts.
Finally, for Italy the most concrete question is a different one: whether and when the service will be expanded or improved here too. Google has not said, and until it does, it is best not to take anything for granted.
Written by the SpazioiTech newsroom with the help of AI tools, from facts verified across at least two independent outlets, and checked before publication. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
Translated from the Italian original. Read in Italian
