Send a Text-to-Speech Message

If you prefer to have a computer-generated voice to read to your recipients, choose the Text-to-Speech (TTS) option. This option can be chosen on both the computer dashboard and in the Mobile Command Center app.

To send a TTS message:

• After logging in you will arrive at the Send Message page. You can also navigate from the messages menu in the top navigation bar to click Send Message.
• From the Send Message page select the group you want to send a message to from the Select Groups dropdown menu. If you want to send to multiple groups, select them one at a time from the dropdown menu. Each group selected will appear in the yellow detail bar above the Review Recent messages section. To remove any of the groups click on the group's name and press OK to confirm.
• Select the User Types to be notified from the dropdown menu.
• Select Text to Speech from the Message Type dropdown menu.
• Select the desired escalation level from the Select Alert Escalation Level dropdown which defines the types of phone numbers to be contacted.
• The Non-emergency or Emergency drop down menu is a secondary selection of phone numbers to include in the message.  Phone numbers marked as Emergency Only on a user’s Dashboard will only be contacted if Emergency is selected. If Non-Emergency is selected, regardless of the escalation level, the phone number will not be included.
• In the Create New Text to Speech Alert section enter a Message Subject in the field provided. Or choose one of your own TTS/Voice Templates from the dropdown menu. (Learn more from our tutorial on Creating Alert Templates.)
• To personalize your message, select an option for the Insert Name Options dropdown menu. (CAUTION: This option is not recommended for emergency messages as this can slow down the delivery rate of messages.)
• Type your Message into the field provided. A computerized voice will speak your message over the phone to the recipients. Spell out all words and use punctuation.
• To have your message translated into one of the five system supported messages select the language from the Voice dropdown menu and click the Translate button.
• Check any of the boxes to
  • Also send an email with a link to this voice message.
  • Also send a text message with a link to this voice message.
  • Also Tweet a link to this voice message.
  • Also post a link to this voice message on Facebook.
• Select a desired recipient response from the Call Recipient Response dropdown menu:
  • Leave No response required from recipient (default) selected.
  • Select Require recipient message confirmation to give the recipient the option to  confirm receipt of the message, which will display on the Call Results page.
  • Select Ask recipient a question with up to nine recipient response options, which will display on the Call Results page. (If this Call Recipient Response is chosen, your Message Body must contain the questions for the recipient to respond to. E.g. Press 1 if you will be attending the meeting, Press 2, if you will be attending and need childcare, etc.
• To preview the message, select a contact option from the Preview contact dropdown menu for the system to call so the message can be heard before sending. Edit the message in the Message Body section  and click the Preview button again until the message is ready to be sent.
• Click the Send Message Now button to send the message immediately or click the Send Message Later button to schedule the message. A box will appear to select a date from the calendar and a designated time by pressing the clock button. When the scheduled data and time have been selected, press the Add button. Follow the steps above to schedule the message for another date and time. When ready click Schedule Alert(s) button. You will be redirected to Scheduled messages on the Navigation bar.
• Once the message has been sent you will be redirected to the Results page. Or from the messages menu in the top navigation bar click Past messages where you can access and view the message, duration of the call, and see whether the call was answered by a person or a machine. If you selected the Ask recipient a question option, the recipient responses will appear on this screen. Select Export Selected Results button to create a spreadsheet to sort the recipient responses.

Updated February 13, 2026 18:34