Computer notification

November 19, 2005 5:21 AM

Would anyone know of a software package or service that would page you when a particular stock price or a particular time was hit? For instance, I would want to be notified when a stock price hit say 17. I therefore would enter that price into my computer. If that price was hit, the computer would notify me through either a page or cell phone call.
posted by Mckoan1 to Computers & Internet (6 answers total)

Yahoo! Messenger can do that but it's not very accurate and I believe the times are delayed, so if you're looking to time the market very precisely, it won't do what you want.

If you just want to know in general when you're stock is in the tank or at the top of its game, this will work for you.
posted by ajpresto at 5:57 AM on November 19, 2005

If you google for stock quote alert, there are several helpful-looking services.
posted by grouse at 6:17 AM on November 19, 2005

If you can live with 20 minute delayed quotes, your cell phone company can send you triggered alerts like that via text message. The mobile services of Yahoo and MSN can do that as well [here's Yahoo!'s alerts page]. You can get an email sent to your phone [or computer] or text message or instant message. As grouse's google search indicates, almost every financial news site will allow that. If you have a brokerage account, it can give you a text message and depending on your account can even real-time alerts w/o the 20 minute delay [or you pay a fee for real-time quotes].

If you're sending things to your phone, make sure you read the fine print of your mobile deal since some carriers will charge you an arm and a leg for messages if they are not include in your plan.
posted by birdherder at 6:40 AM on November 19, 2005

Sorry for being Mr. Obvious if you already know this or want to know the price for some other reason, but if you're planning on making a trade based on a stock's market price, even a real-time pager alert might get to you after your window of opportunity has closed.

Depending on your strategy, placing a limit order, a stop order or a stop-limit order might be a better way to attack the problem.
posted by Opposite George at 8:19 AM on November 19, 2005

Most pagers and cellphones can be emailed, and nearly all brokerages will give you email alerts. E*Trade even has "short text" ones for just this purpose.
posted by smackfu at 8:34 AM on November 19, 2005

I use "market browser" -- you can download a free for a period software and get alerts sent to you by e-mail when and if you sign up for their premium service -- not too expensive.
posted by orlin at 8:44 AM on November 19, 2005