Motorola Solutions (NYSE:MSI) and RapidSOS
today announced a new solution for getting emergency help to people who
need it most – faster and more efficiently.
Motorola Solutions and RapidSOS, an emergency technology startup, will
soon begin delivering precise location information for U.S. 911 calls
made from smartphones. The solution creates end-to-end data connectivity
by sharing precise location across the emergency call, from citizens in
need to dispatchers to first responders.
About 70 percent of U.S. 911 calls are made from mobile phones, and
knowing the precise location of an emergency caller can accelerate time
to resolution. According
to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 911 calls from
mobile phones may provide a general indication of the caller's location,
but that information is not always specific enough to quickly deploy
first responders.
In the coming weeks, precise location information enabled by RapidSOS
will be available on Emergency
CallWorks CallStation, Motorola Solutions' software for emergency
call-taking and mapping. Precise location also will be delivered to
first responders in the field through Motorola
Solutions' Messaging and Mapping public safety mobile applications
that will be released later this year. Precise location will be
estimated based on the location of the device, using sensors on the
device and WiFi access points, Bluetooth transmitters and other
technology that detects indoor and outdoor location.
"This solution has the power to get emergency help to citizens more
quickly and efficiently," said Tom Guthrie, vice president, Smart Public
Safety Solutions, Motorola Solutions. "It enables precise location to be
shared across the end-to-end workflow of an emergency call, ensuring
personnel at every stage have the critical information they need. The
expansion of public safety broadband enables us to create solutions like
this one, which allow for more information-sharing among first
responders, public safety command centers and citizens."
"RapidSOS' technology transmits rich data from wearables, connected
cars, consumer IoT, and mobile devices," said Michael Martin, chief
executive officer, RapidSOS. "Working with Motorola Solutions, we can
provide unprecedented information to first responders in an emergency –
having a profound impact on emergency response."
Motorola Solutions Venture Capital, the company's strategic investment
group, recently made an investment
in RapidSOS. In addition to delivering precise location for
emergency calls from smartphones, the companies are also exploring how
third-party data collected by smartphones, connected cars, wearables and
other connected devices can flow through Motorola Solutions' integrated
suite of command center software, from 911 call-takers and dispatchers
to police officers and emergency medical personnel in the field.
Read more Motorola Solutions software news:
About Motorola Solutions
Motorola Solutions (NYSE:MSI) creates innovative, mission-critical
communication solutions and services that help public safety and
commercial customers build safer cities and thriving communities. For
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