RESTON, Va., Oct. 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/
-- FirstNet and AT&T* launched the first
developer program geared toward America's first responders. This
will encourage public safety-focused innovation to help equip first
responders with state-of-the-art communications tools. It also
brings public safety closer to having their own app store where
they can find new solutions purpose-built for their needs.
"This program will tap into the expertise and creativity of the
developer community to drive innovation for public safety," said
FirstNet CEO Mike Poth. "It will
also connect first responders with developers to create apps that
will help them stay safe and save lives."
The developer program will feed the FirstNet app store,
providing public safety with a one-stop shop for reliable, highly
secure solutions optimized for the FirstNet network. Based on
common and open standards, this ecosystem will be an engine for
innovative, cost effective and interoperable public safety
solutions.
"The FirstNet app ecosystem is an important building block as we
work to modernize public safety's communications tools and
capabilities," said Chris Sambar, senior vice president, AT&T –
FirstNet. "The FirstNet network will bring public safety the
connectivity they need to communicate and collaborate. But it's
really what we're able to build on top of that connectivity that
will make the biggest difference in these brave men and women's
day-to-day operations."
Calling All Developers
Through the FirstNet developer
program, developers will be able to create apps for public safety
and scale them for first responders like never before. Developers
now have access to a specialized portal housing resources to help
them successfully build, test, deploy and maintain public safety
applications. In addition to programming tools like APIs and
software development kits, the portal features guidelines to follow
when developing for public safety.
Some areas of focus for potential developers include, but are
not limited to:
- Situational awareness
- In-building mapping
- Field reporting and records management
- Wearable devices and telemetry solutions
- Forensic intelligence
The program will also enable collaboration between first
responders and developers to create mission-critical apps for
public safety and tools that give them access to timely
information. FirstNet and AT&T will host events and challenges
to help foster this collaboration.
"The developer program establishes a clear line of sight between
public safety and app developers. It will help ensure the apps
developed truly meet first responders' field needs. It's a really
important thing that was missing from the market. Until now,"
Sambar added.
Spurring Innovation for Public Safety
With the launch
of this program, developers can now submit their apps for inclusion
in the FirstNet app store as either "certified" or "reviewed" for
first responder use.
Upon submission, FirstNet and AT&T will:
- Evaluate performance, service-level agreements and potential
source code vulnerabilities.
- Provide a "certified" or "reviewed" rating depending on the
application's uptime availability, resiliency and scalability for
simultaneous users.
- Publish "certified" and "reviewed" apps in the FirstNet app
store.
"The FirstNet app store will combine the convenience of a public
app store with the security of a private app store," said Poth. "We
look forward to working with companies, individual developers and
first responders to stock the store's virtual shelves with fully
vetted and highly secure apps to help public safety personnel
achieve their mission."
In addition to working with developers, the program will
evaluate existing public safety apps for inclusion in the store.
Details on how to submit apps as well as the criteria by which they
are evaluated can all be found on the FirstNet developer
portal.
The development of the FirstNet app ecosystem was informed in
consultation with public safety, by the history and traditions of
public safety and through substantial research into the needs of
public safety. This was done in close collaboration with APCO
International and other public safety organizations to support app
security, interoperability and reliability.
For more information on the FirstNet app ecosystem and the value
that the FirstNet network will bring to public safety, please go to
FirstNet.com. For more information on the FirstNet organization,
please go to FirstNet.gov and att.com/FirstResponderNews.
About FirstNet
The First Responder Network Authority
(FirstNet) is an independent authority within the U.S. Department
of Commerce. Chartered in 2012, its mission is to ensure the
building, deployment, and operation of the nationwide, broadband
network that equips first responders to save lives and protect U.S.
communities. Learn more at FirstNet.gov/mediakit and follow
FirstNet (@FirstNetGov) on Facebook and Twitter for updates.
*About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) helps millions
around the globe connect with leading entertainment, business,
mobile and high speed internet services. We offer the nation's best
data network** and the best global coverage of any U.S. wireless
provider. We're one of the world's largest providers of pay TV. We
have TV customers in the U.S. and 11 Latin American countries.
Nearly 3.5 million companies, from small to large businesses around
the globe, turn to AT&T for our highly secure smart
solutions.
AT&T products and services are provided or offered by
subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T
brand and not by AT&T Inc. Additional information about
AT&T products and services is available at about.att.com.
Follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at facebook.com/att
and on YouTube at youtube.com/att.
© 2017 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved.
AT&T, the Globe logo and other marks are trademarks and service
marks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated
companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of
their respective owners.
**Claim based on the Nielsen Certified Data Network Score. Score
includes data reported by wireless consumers in the Nielsen Mobile
Insights survey, network measurements from Nielsen Mobile
Performance and Nielsen Drive Test Benchmarks for Q1 + Q2 2017
across 121 markets.
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SOURCE AT&T Inc.