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‘‘It’s irresponsible of security companies to say that,” said Troutman, who acknowledges that ZENS is gaining more attention since the tragedy.

Typically, colleges rely on off-campus emergency agencies to issue alerts in case of a fire or attack. Zylaya’s two-way communications system allows college officials, and even students, to use a key chain device to alert security personnel of emergencies. A central dispatcher can then relay a text message to the devices and stationary public displays in or on buildings.

Troutman and co-founders David A. Handy and David Newman were inspired to start Zylaya in 2005 because they were concerned about their children who were entering or attending colleges.

The 2-inch-long devices have a pink panic button and a message screen, linked to an independent communications network for text messaging. The system is powered by GPS technology. Pressing the pink button signals a central security dispatcher, who can then identify the sender and his location on campus. Troutman said installing the system, which awaits its first buyer, can run anywhere from $25,000 to $250,000.

‘‘This is a direct, clean indicator to campus security of an issue that needs attention immediately,” said Beth B. Wingert, Zylaya’s vice president for marketing.

Troutman said he and other company executives have met with officials at local colleges and hospitals, including the University of Maryland, College Park, Salisbury University, Columbia Union College, Montgomery College, Holy Cross Hospital, Washington Adventist Hospital and Towson State University.

He’s telling these prospective customers that a simple siren or other conventional warning system ‘‘won’t address all the issues of their security people,” Troutman said. The ZENS system also conveys information about the nature of the emergency to students and others on campus.

Colleges in cities are especially in need of such a system, because of higher urban crime rates, he said.

The company offers two models. One model is for use by only instructors, first responders and security officers. Troutman prefers to pitch ‘‘Model B,” which can also be used by students.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore, is one of many urban colleges looking at upgrading their emergency alert systems following the Virginia Tech shootings.

But the Zylaya device, in the hands of all students, would concern Ed Fishel, a UMB spokesman.

‘‘It seems unwieldy with our turnover of students,” said Fishel, who sits on the university’s emergency management team.

The Virginia Tech shootings ‘‘got our leadership’s attention,” said Robert Rowan, who leads the team.

Troutman has encouraged customers to institute a policy of increasingly stiff fines for losing or abusing the panic button devices.

Meanwhile, UMB is considering spending $10,000 for a text-messaging alert system sold by Roam Secure Inc. of Arlington, Va. The University of Maryland, College Park, recently purchased this system, which calls for students to register their cell phones or other wireless devices.

Roam Secure company claims that its system can send more than 18,000 emergency messages a minute to students, parents, faculty, public safety officials and alumni, even when disasters saturate voice communication networks. ZENS also is designed to work even if a tornado or other catastrophe destroys cell phone towers.

Still, Rowan at UMB is skeptical about such alert systems that rely on students registering their phones or other personal devices.

‘‘I am concerned that the penetration tends to not be that high,” Rowan said. ‘‘Many schools show only a 10 to 20 percent response. One of the concerns we have [is] that all these systems are not fool-proof.”

UMB, which encompasses 20 blocks in Baltimore, has its own 65-person police department, including homicide detectives and an intelligence unit, in addition to 75 security guards.

Robert Wirth, facilities manager for Montgomery College’s three campuses in Rockville, Takoma Park and Germantown, said he is not aware of Zylaya’s system. But the college is evaluating many upgraded emergency response systems, he said.

‘‘Like every other college now, we are talking about the best way to do it,” Wirth said.

He compared the Virginia Tech campus to a small town of 30,000 people where a someone starts gunning down residents. The question, he said, is, ‘‘How do you tell everyone else?”

Others worry about complacency as the Virginia Tech shootings fade from memory.

‘‘I hope it does stay a priority that we take seriously,” said S. Daniel Carter, senior vice president of nonprofit Security on Campus Inc. in King of Prussia, Pa.

Carter said Zylaya has exhibited its system at his nonprofit’s events.

‘‘What we push is for colleges to embrace the innovative technology to protect their campuses, because there is technology out there now that was not available two years ago,” he said.

Security on Campus was founded by Howard and Connie Clery after their daughter Jeanne Clery was murdered at Lehigh University in 1986. They championed the Clery Act, also known as the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990.

Carter said the organization supports the Campus Law Enforcement Emergency Response Act of 2007, introduced by Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.). The legislation would authorize the Department of Education to offer $5 million grants for one year for campus security systems.

Zylaya, with 15 employees, also made a pitch at last month’s Mid-Atlantic Venture Association meeting for $3.5 million to cover its anticipated growth in sales and sales support.

The company projects revenues of $500,000 for 2007 and $6 million for 2008.