Apple’s iOS 12 Securely and Automatically Shares Emergency Location with 911
June 18 2018 - 06:30AM
Business Wire
iPhone® users in the United States who call 911 will be able to
automatically and securely share their location data with first
responders beginning later this year with iOS 12, providing faster
and more accurate information to help reduce emergency response
times.
Approximately 80 percent of 911 calls today come from mobile
devices, but outdated, landline-era infrastructure often makes it
difficult for 911 centers to quickly and accurately obtain a mobile
caller’s location. To address this challenge, Apple® launched HELO
(Hybridized Emergency Location) in 2015, which estimates a mobile
911 caller’s location using cell towers and on-device data sources
like GPS and WiFi Access Points.
Apple today announced it will also use emergency technology
company RapidSOS’s Internet Protocol-based data pipeline to quickly
and securely share HELO location data with 911 centers, improving
response time when lives and property are at risk. RapidSOS’s
system will deliver the emergency location data of iOS users by
integrating with many 911 centers’ existing software, which rely on
industry-standard protocols.
“Communities rely on 911 centers in an emergency, and we believe
they should have the best available technology at their disposal,”
said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “When every moment counts, these tools
will help first responders reach our customers when they most need
assistance.”
In keeping with Apple’s focus on privacy, user data cannot be
used for any non-emergency purpose and only the responding 911
center will have access to the user’s location during an emergency
call.
“911 telecommunicators do extraordinary work managing millions
of emergencies with little more than a voice connection,” said
RapidSOS CEO, Michael Martin. “We are excited to work with Apple to
provide first responders a new path for accurate, device-based
caller location using transformative Next Generation 911
technology.”
The FCC requires carriers to locate callers to within 50 meters
at least 80 percent of the time by 2021. iOS location services are
capable of exceeding this requirement today, even in challenging,
dense, urban environments. This new feature allows Apple to make
these benefits available to local 911 centers now rather than years
from now.
“We’re thrilled that Apple is giving 911 centers access to
device-based location data via a thoroughly-tested, standards-based
approach,” said Rob McMullen, President of the National Emergency
Number Association, the 911 Association. “This will accelerate the
deployment of Next Generation 911 for everyone, saving lives and
protecting property.”
“This new functionality is an example of how companies and first
responders can use technology to dramatically improve public
safety,” said Tom Wheeler, FCC Chairman from 2013 to 2017. “Lives
will be saved thanks to this effort by Apple and RapidSOS.”
“Helping 911 services quickly and accurately assess caller
location has been a major issue since my time at the FCC,” said
Dennis Patrick, FCC Chairman from 1987 to 1989. “This advancement
from Apple and RapidSOS will be transformative for emergency
response in the United States.”
Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction
of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in
innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV.
Apple’s four software platforms — iOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS —
provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower
people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple
Music, Apple Pay and iCloud. Apple’s more than 100,000 employees
are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving
the world better than we found it.
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© 2018 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, iPhone and the
Apple logo are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names
may be trademarks of their respective owners.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180618005432/en/
AppleFred Sainz, (669) 227-0492Sainz@apple.comKeri Fulton, (240)
595-2691keri_fulton@apple.com
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