A test of the Israel Defense Forces Homefront Command's new emergency text messaging system was conducted throughout the week with only partial success. The test did not include all citizens of the country since not everyone has the Short Message Service application for their mobile phones.

In addition, 1.4 million clients of the Orange mobile service provider did not participate fully in the test because Orange announced its participation only at the beginning of the week.

The Homefront Command announced that it would test the "Personal Message" system throughout the week. During the test, text messages were sent to citizens' mobile phones in different parts of the country between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. local time.

The most intensive part of the test took place on Thursday between 10 a.m. and noon. Text messages saying, "Homefront Command test of cellular warning system," were sent to different cities in accordance with a predetermined schedule.

Some citizens received several consecutive messages, while others did not receive even a single message. In the days to come the command will analyze the results of this first test of its kind.

According to Homefront Command officials, citizens who did not receive a test message may have been using an outdated operating system and the command recommends all systems to be updated as soon as possible.

Owners of iPhones can only receive the text messages with the latest operating system version, which will soon be released.

Officials said that in any case, the message system will always be used in tandem with the countrywide siren system.