Communications systems gain their value from the square of the number of terminals that are connected to it. I'm much more inclined to think that GMRS/FRS, MURS, CB and ham radio will work a lot better than these two competing (and incompatible) systems. Until there's a critical mass of one or the other, these won't be very many people that can be reached with these, unless everyone in your group gets one.
The problem with GMRS/FRS MURS, CB and ham radio is none of these will be an effective alternative to the smart phone user base which is in the hundreds of millions. Given the easy ability to simply download an app as compared to shelling out money for radios, licenses etc, the smart phone generation is going to take the app route. At some point, one these apps may gain enough traction to become a standard that perhaps other apps can be compatible with.
Zello - which I mentioned in a previous thread, currently seems to hold the most promise and those who have already used, can confirm that it works and scales. Of course, cell and or WiFi is required but as some disasters in recent years has proven, cell service has stayed up. And with Telcos now having the ability to readily deploy portable cell towers for disasters and other big non-emergency events, the days of radios being the dominant force for civilian comms, is coming to an end.
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