Thousands of mobile users across California received their first-ever Amber Alert through on their mobile phones late Monday and early Tuesday, which was sent out by the San Diego County Sheriff's Department after firefighters discovered a dead body in a house on fire last Sunday.

The Los Angeles Times reports that the dead body was identified as Christiana Anderson, 44 years old, and was found inside the house of 40-year old James Lee DiMaggio. DiMaggio is suspected to have abducted one or both of Anderson's children: Hannah Anderson, 16, and Ethan Anderson, 8.

The Amber Alert came as a message with a 10-second high pitched beeping and buzzing sound which sent mobile users across California on alert. The message contained details about DiMaggio's car: blue Nissan Versa along with its California license plate: 6WCU986.

Not everyone was pleased receiving the Amber Alert on their phones including Joe Curren from Sacramento.

"This is among the most unintelligent, histrionic, intrusive programs ever. I felt like the San Diego police reached into my pocket," Curren told the LA Times.

According to him, the Amber Alert came off sounding like a fire alarm -- startling him and his girlfriend. This does not mean he was not concerned with the two children though, as he also wondered if the children will be okay. However, like many other Californians and mobile users currently within the area, Curren was wondering what he could do about the situation when he was at home near midnight and at the other end of the state.

The Amber Alert was created in 1996 in memory of 9-year old Amber Hagerman who was abducted and killed in Texas. The system was initially launched for radio, television and road signs but debuted as a wireless system in 2005. Amber alerts are not transmitted through text messages but rather through an exclusive frequency that is not inhibited by heavy network usage.

Since the wireless system launch, all mobile users within the vicinity -- even those who are only traveling or visiting California are automatically signed up for the Amber Alert system unless they opt to sign out of the program. Signing out of the Amber Alert system can be done by contacting service providers and by changing the message or the alert message settings of mobile phones.

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