NSW Police will soon be able to send texts to people in the vicinity of where a missing person was last seen.
It's hoped the SMS geo-targeting alert system will help police quickly find high-risk missing persons.
A text message would be sent to all mobile devices in a defined area with a brief description of the missing person and details of how to report a sighting.
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It's the same technology used by states and territories to send alerts during emergency situations, such as floods or bush fires.
State Crime Command Director, Detective Chief Superintendent Darren Bennett, said the geo-targeting tool would be invaluable to help find missing people.
"We want the community to be aware these functions exist in the event they receive an SMS in the future," Det Ch Supt Bennett said on Thursday.
Missing Persons Registry Co-ordinator, Detective Inspector Glen Browne, said the SMS messages would be used in high-risk situations.
High-risk include people living with dementia who may wander from their homes, children with developmental delays separated from family and children who go missing in large crowds.
Telstra, Optus and TPG will support the use and implementation of the SMS geo-targeting tool and utilise the existing emergency alert framework.
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