This month, emergency alerts will be sent to phones across the UK as part of a test by the government.
The alerts will sound like a siren so that they will be loud enough for you to hear should there be an emergency with a message set to appear on your mobile's home screen, accompanied by a vibration which will sound for around 10 seconds.
You will be notified even if your phone is set to silent or do not disturb and depending on your device, your phone may also read out the alert.
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However while the deadline nears, with a date of April 23 scheduled, people are being warned not to shop or use their banking apps during the trial alert, reports MEN.
Popularly known as the ‘Armageddon Alert’ , the alerts are designed to save lives, and warn people if they are near a "danger to life nearby."
It comes as home delivery experts, Parcelhero, have said that while the new alarm system will "undoubtedly save lives in the future" when used to warn of extreme weather events, terrorist acts or fires, they can pose a problem during mass testing on all 4G and 5G networks.
The consumer experts have said the mass alarms could lead to disruption and failed transactions for mobile phone users, especially those who regularly use Amazon, eBay, PayPal or Apple Pay to purchase items. They have even warned that the alerts could make phones freeze.
ParcelHero’s Head of Consumer Research, David Jinks M.I.L.T. said: "When the Government’s Emergency Alert test activates on our mobile phones and tablets, everyone will have to acknowledge the warning to regain access to their device’s features.
"A message will appear on home screens, with vibrations and a loud warning siren that will sound for about 10 seconds, even if the phone is set to silent. That’s certainly going to be alarming if you have just pressed “Buy Now”."
He added: "That means there’s little way of avoiding the impact of this test. That’s bad news for people gaming, shopping and banking on their devices as the alert is broadcast.
"We also anticipate issues immediately after people receive the test, as many of us race to share our experience by calling, texting or using WhatsApp. When multiple devices all try to use the same network, overcrowding occurs as they compete to connect.
"This means low quality or buffering during streaming, latency during gaming, and frustratingly slow browsing speeds."
Parcelhero have shared advice on what consumers can do during the test on stating that mobile users will need to dismiss the message, before they can regain functionality. He added: "If you really must shop, there is a simple hack that means your phone won’t receive the alert.
"Search your settings for “emergency alerts” (these are in Notifications on an iPhone). Then select turn off “severe alerts” and “extreme alerts”. However, we don’t recommend this as the alert could save your life in the future."
You can read all about the alert here.
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