Motorola, Intrado Team for NG9-1-1 Text Messaging Products and Services

August 2, 2010

As agencies move toward wider adoption of NG9-1-1 capabilities, a new approach is needed to fully realize the unprecedented access to non-verbal communication, such as citizen text messaging. Working closely with mutual public safety customers, Motorola and Intrado are combining their expertise with innovative new technologies to further advance public safety services and emergency response. The two companies will initially focus on a citizen text messaging trial to enable access for individuals who may have speech or hearing disabilities. The result of this trial will help inform how citizen text messages are best integrated as public safety agencies move toward NG9-1-1 services. In June 2009 Intrado launched the first text messaging solution to successfully deliver text messages directly to 9-1-1 and has continued to enhance that solution in preparation for broader deployment across the public safety community.

For the initial text trial, the interoperability and integration of Motorola’s IP based PremierOne CAD and Intrado’s A9-1-1 equipment and technology will be achieved using the ATIS (Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions) Emergency Services Messaging Interface (ESMI) standard. Motorola and Intrado support the need for NG9-1-1 standards. As future NG9-1-1 standards evolve and are approved by industry recognized standards organizations, trial solutions supporting these standards will be considered.

“This alliance with Intrado further demonstrates our commitment to deliver next generation public safety solutions for safer, faster and better incident resolution. Through collaboration with our customers and our involvement with industry groups, we understand there is a critical need to enhance communications between the nation’s public safety agencies and the community,” said Darren McQueen –vice president and general manager, Integrated Command and Control and Private Broadband for Motorola, Inc. “We’re looking forward to working with Intrado to accelerate the deployment of 9-1-1 text messaging for the speech and hearing impaired, and for people whose safety may be compromised if they were to speak to an emergency operator.”

“We’re pleased to be collaborating with Motorola, a recognized and respected NG9-1-1 innovator, to enable more public safety answering points (PSAPs) to efficiently implement text messaging for the people they serve,” said Joe Hernandez, senior vice president of Intrado’s Emergency Responder Division. “Consumer technology and the way people are communicating with each other is evolving rapidly, and so are the public expectations of 9-1-1 emergency communications and response. Together with Motorola, we can provide PSAPs the ability to accept emergency text messages from citizens who are deaf or hard of hearing or have speech-impairments, and may not be able to voice their request for emergency assistance.”