diff --git a/NotificationShowcase/res/values/strings.xml b/NotificationShowcase/res/values/strings.xml
index cd7239e..daf5445 100644
--- a/NotificationShowcase/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/NotificationShowcase/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -79,6 +79,8 @@
     <string name="pref_title_sms_buzzy">Vibration</string>
     <string name="pref_summary_sms_buzzy">Allow the SMS example to vibrate</string>
     <string name="pref_title_sms_priority">SMS Priority</string>
+    <string name="pref_title_sms_once">Alert Only Once</string>
+    <string name="pref_summary_sms_once">Updates should not interrupt the user.</string>
     <string name="pref_title_sms_person">SMS Person</string>
     <string name="pref_summary_sms_person">Add a person to the SMS notification</string>
 
diff --git a/NotificationShowcase/res/xml/preferences.xml b/NotificationShowcase/res/xml/preferences.xml
index 4d0efe2..4cc154f 100644
--- a/NotificationShowcase/res/xml/preferences.xml
+++ b/NotificationShowcase/res/xml/preferences.xml
@@ -61,6 +61,13 @@
             android:entries="@array/priority_names"
             android:entryValues="@array/priority_values"
             android:defaultValue="0"/>
+      <CheckBoxPreference
+              android:persistent="true"
+              android:key="pref_key_sms_once"
+              android:dependency="pref_key_sms_enable"
+              android:summary="@string/pref_summary_sms_once"
+              android:title="@string/pref_title_sms_once"
+              android:defaultValue="true" />
     <CheckBoxPreference
             android:persistent="true"
             android:dependency="pref_key_sms_enable"
diff --git a/NotificationShowcase/src/com/android/example/notificationshowcase/NotificationService.java b/NotificationShowcase/src/com/android/example/notificationshowcase/NotificationService.java
index 5fb2a2b..cbec648 100644
--- a/NotificationShowcase/src/com/android/example/notificationshowcase/NotificationService.java
+++ b/NotificationShowcase/src/com/android/example/notificationshowcase/NotificationService.java
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@
                 .addAction(R.drawable.ic_media_next, context.getString(R.string.sms_reply), ai)
                 .setSmallIcon(R.drawable.stat_notify_talk_text)
                 .setStyle(bigTextStyle)
-                .setOnlyAlertOnce(true);
+                .setOnlyAlertOnce(sharedPref.getBoolean(SettingsActivity.KEY_SMS_ONCE, true));
 
         if (TextUtils.isEmpty(personUri)) {
             Log.w(TAG, "failed to find contact for Mike Cleron");
diff --git a/NotificationShowcase/src/com/android/example/notificationshowcase/SettingsActivity.java b/NotificationShowcase/src/com/android/example/notificationshowcase/SettingsActivity.java
index 5697f77..77936c7 100644
--- a/NotificationShowcase/src/com/android/example/notificationshowcase/SettingsActivity.java
+++ b/NotificationShowcase/src/com/android/example/notificationshowcase/SettingsActivity.java
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
     public static final String KEY_SMS_NOISY = "pref_key_sms_noisy";
     public static final String KEY_SMS_SOUND = "pref_key_sms_sound";
     public static final String KEY_SMS_BUZZY = "pref_key_sms_buzzy";
+    public static final String KEY_SMS_ONCE = "pref_key_sms_once";
     public static final String KEY_SMS_PRIORITY = "pref_key_sms_priority";
     public static final String KEY_SMS_PERSON = "pref_key_sms_person";
     public static final String KEY_PHONE_ENABLE = "pref_key_phone_enable";