Alerts

What are Alerts?
BMO InvestorLine's Alert service is a convenient tool that allows you to receive notifications on market information at any wireless device or email address you indicate. You can choose from thousands of stock symbols listed on North American markets to get volume, price and news alerts.

Edit Alert screen and market information displayed for BMO is presented for illustration purposes only.

How much do Alerts cost?
This is a free service for BMO InvestorLine clients. However, please be aware that your wireless service provider may charge you for receiving emails on your mobile device. Please consult your wireless carrier's customer agreement or contact them for details.

How can I receive stock and news alerts?
Once you have completed your Alerts set-up, you can receive alerts on any device that is capable of receiving emails. This includes email-enabled PCS (digital) cell phones, text pagers or personal digital assistants (PDA) and desktop computers. If you don't want alerts sent to a wireless device, you can have them sent to your regular email address.

To receive wireless alerts on your mobile phone, pager or PDA, you need to ensure that your device is capable of receiving email messages. Then, you need to have your wireless Internet or text messaging service activated by your wireless carrier. They will provide you with an email address for your mobile device.

How do I set up Alerts?
Simply sign into your account, and choose Stock & News Alerts under Trading from your account navigation. Follow the instructions presented on the Alerts welcome page.

Can this service replace my other sources of stock and news information?
No. The Alerts service is designed to be a convenient tool that enhances your overall investing strategy. Sign into your account to consult detailed market information available through our web site. BMO InvestorLine's Alerts service is provided by Reuters Limited. All quote information provided through our Alerts service is delayed by 20 minutes. We cannot guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of the information provided. The delivery of alerts can be disrupted at any time, and for any reason beyond our control.

Are the stock quotes real-time or delayed?
Stock quotes are delayed by 20 minutes. The actual delivery of alerts to your device is dependent on the time it takes to travel over the Internet and/or wireless networks. This time may vary depending on the carrier or Internet service provider you use.

How do I enter my mobile device's email address for wireless alert delivery?
Most text pagers and PCS (digital) phones and other mobile Internet devices have email addresses that are a combination of the pager/PCS phone number, and your wireless carrier's email address. You must consult your wireless carrier for complete details. Here are a few examples for email addresses of the major pager and PCS phone services:

Where can I find information on my paging or PCS (digital) phone service?
Your mobile device needs to be able to receive email messages, and you need to subscribe to your wireless carrier's email service. They can also help you determine what your mobile device's email address is.

Here are a few links to major wireless phone and paging providers in Canada.

Which alert format do I choose? HTML, Text or Abbreviated Text formats?
You can choose how your alerts will look when you receive them.

If you choose HTML (web) format, we will send you email messages that contain HTML formatting. You can check HTML format if you are using an email program or a mobile device that can display HTML (web pages). Messages formatted with HTML can use different fonts and graphics to provide a variety of visual effects.

If you choose Text format during set-up, we will send you alerts that contain only plain text. You should choose Text format if you are using an email application or mobile device that only displays plain text and not graphics. For example, this format is recommended for RIM Blackberry devices.

Lastly, we offer Abbreviated Text format. Alerts sent to you in this format are recommended for cellular phones that can only display messages from 60 to 125 characters (with spaces). Stock and news alerts sent in abbreviated text format will only provide one line of data, the equity name, symbol, quote information or news headline.

Can I check my mobile alerts on my PC?
Yes. From the Alerts Delivery Options page you can enter your regular email address. You can change your email address by modifying your Alerts Profile once you have signed into your account.

I don't see any messages. How do I know if it's working?
Shortly after you create your Alerts Profile, you'll receive a confirmation message at the email address you specified when you set up your Alerts. If you do not receive this confirmation message, first ensure that you entered the correct information during the set-up process. Sign into your account and select Manage Profile under the Trading menu. If you are still experiencing problems contact your wireless carrier or Internet service provider.

Note that your mobile device needs to be able to receive email messages, and you need to subscribe to your wireless carrier's email service.

Can I change my alerts?
You can modify, delete or set up new alerts from within the Alerts section of the web site at any time. You can change how your alerts are delivered to you on the Alerts Delivery Options page by choosing Stock & News Alerts under Trading from your account navigation.

Sometimes I don't receive alerts. Why does this happen?
There are a number of possible reasons for this, which may be network or device related. This service functions over the Internet and wireless networks, which can be unstable and open to service interruptions.

Your device may be out of its service range, resulting in a non-delivered or late alert. Another possibility is that you have reached your monthly message quota on your wireless account if your alerts are sent to a wireless device. You need to consult your wireless carrier for more details.

BMO InvestorLine does not guarantee the delivery of alerts. Please refer to our Legal Info section for more information regarding Alerts.

Why do messages get cut off on my pager or PCS (digital) phone?
Pagers and PCS phones vary in the number of characters (letters and spaces) they can display. Some are capable of showing as few as 60 characters while others display as many as 240 characters. You need to refer to your device manual for exact information.

We provide the option of receiving news and stock alerts in HTML (web), text and abbreviated text format. Some pagers and PCS phones will cut off part of the message. If your device's display is limited, you should choose abbreviated text format on the Alerts Delivery Options during set-up to get the best results.

How do I turn off Alerts?
It's very easy. Just sign into your account and modify your delivery options by choosing Alerts under the Market Info menu. If you are going on vacation, you can have the alerts held while you are away. Alerts will resume on your specified date of return.

What are the Vacation Hold and Daily Suspension features?
Vacation Hold allows you to stop alert delivery for one to several days. If you are going away on vacation and don’t wish to receive alert emails while you are away, Vacation Hold can be set up in advance and alert delivery will be turned on automatically when you return.

Daily Suspension is ideal for those who don’t want to be disturbed at certain times of the day. This is especially useful for alert delivery

While Vacation Hold and Daily Suspension is activated, you will not receive alert emails, therefore you will lose that data forever.