Apple and Google are working together to fight the coronavirus with a set of tools that all smartphones could use. The two companies outlined this new technology in white papers they have published on Friday.
It relies on Bluetooth wireless radio technology to help phones communicate with one another. It ultimately warns users about people they’ve come in contact with who are infected with the coronavirus.
Apple and Google have planned to initially release these tools in May. This way, public health authorities can use the contact tracing technology as soon as possible. Eventually, the companies plan to build them directly into iOS and Android software to help more people tap into them.
In a joint statement, the companies said, they hope to harness the power of technology. Close cooperation and collaboration with developers, governments, and public health providers help countries around the world slow the virus spread.
They are hoping this could help accelerate the return of normal everyday life.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Friday tweeted that the two companies are committed to working together on these efforts. Apple CEO Tim Cook added in a tweet that the new initiative respects transparency and consent.
Contact tracing can help slow the spread of COVID-19 and can be done without compromising user privacy, Cook said.
These plans by the two tech giants are just their latest efforts to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19. The pandemic has forced everyone to stay at home to slow the virus’ spread and reduce the strain on hospitals.
Apple, Google, and Other Tech Companies’ Initiatives
Apple, Google, and other big tech companies have been working on initiatives around the coronavirus since it struck. Alphabet, the life sciences arm of Google parent launched a website that gives California people virus testing information last month.
Alphabet developed the website with the White House to let people fill in symptoms and complete an online screener.
Google also said it’s committing more than $800 million to help small businesses and crisis responders dealing with the pandemic.
Apple and Google, have been making and distributing protective equipment for health care workers.
Now, with this new coronavirus tracing technology, two of Silicon Valley’s biggest rivals are hoping to create an app. This will help regain a sense of normalcy while waiting for a vaccine or other ways to fight COVID-19.
All of them at Apple and Google believe there has never been a more important moment to work together. They are working together to solve one of the world’s most pressing problems, the companies said.
The technology of these two companies is meant to support contact tracing. It historically has been a manual process in which health care workers painstakingly comb through a patient’s history.
That is to figure out who they were near and may have exposed to infection.
It potentially speeds up that process, as people who are marked infected in an app on their phone could transmit alerts. This could potentially lead people to take extra precautions or self-quarantine to slow any further spread.
Already, state and local governments appear to be warming to these ideas however, there are potential privacy concerns.
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