A current synthetic UV index is developed and successfully verified against direct surface measurements of UV index values. The purpose of this invention is to distribute this current synthetic UV index through cell phones nationwide. This will inform cell phone users for the first time about the current UV index value when they carry their cell phones. The current UV index will be calculated using the geographical location of the cell phone, the time of the day, and the cloud cover conditions in that area. The algorithm will then use this information to calculate the solar elevation needed to determine the amount of UV radiation reaching the earth's surface at any given time. The total column ozone for that particular day will be taken into account for each calculation. This mechanism of dissemination of the actual/current UV index values will be an important achievement with the intention of raising the public's awareness of the harmful effects of the sun's ultraviolet rays.