Solacom and RapidSOS Enable Kentucky PSAP to Better Respond to 9-1-1 Calls From Smartphones
Owensboro-Daviess County Central Dispatch can now pinpoint precise location of wireless calls
OWENSBORO, KY., Oct. 12, 2017 — The latest upgrade to Solacom’s Guardian 9-1-1 Call Handling solution at the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) in Owensboro, Kentucky includes a powerful new capability that enables call takers to handle calls from mobile phones more effectively.
The new enhancement to the Owensboro-Daviess County 9-1-1 system incorporates technology provided by Solacom partner RapidSOS that provides better mobile location accuracy for callers dialing 9-1-1 from a mobile device. With this technology, the PSAP is now able to:
- Improve its response to 9-1-1 calls from smartphone users
- Obtain precise smartphone location
- Capture additional specific wireless call data
“I am so excited about this new technology. It’s going to be a huge change in the way we operate,” says Paul Nave, 9-1-1 director at Owensboro-Daviess County 911. “Location is everything to a 9-1-1 center. And mobile locations haven’t always been accurate in the past. Being able to pinpoint a mobile caller’s location could truly mean the difference between life and death.”
The new RapidSOS technology is integrated seamlessly in the Solacom Guardian 9-1-1 Call Handling solution at all call taker desktops. This new addition to the Guardian solution allows Owensboro-Daviess County call takers to query the RapidSOS Next Generation 9-1-1 Clearinghouse when they receive a wireless 9-1-1 call. The Clearinghouse then transmits device-based hybrid location and additional data from all sensors on enabled smartphones back to the Guardian solution via NG9-1-1 mechanisms.
“Solacom’s dedication to offering flexible, customizable, NG9-1-1 call management systems makes the RapidSOS technology upgrade seamless for the PSAP,” says Michael Martin, CEO of RapidSOS. “We are thrilled to deploy the integration to give Owensboro-Daviess County, and other Solacom customers down the line, the data they need to respond to wireless 9-1-1 calls quickly and with appropriate care.”
Solacom’s complete Guardian 9-1-1 Solution is the most flexible, user-centric voice, data, and video emergency call management solution for PSAPs. Designed to support all current and emerging standards and compatible with previously installed emergency response platforms, it provides a simple, evolutionary path to next-generation emergency call management requirements.
“The complete Solacom Guardian 9-1-1 Solution is customizable and purpose-built, so that PSAPs are always able to use the latest system enhancements — without replacing the underlying infrastructure,” says Tony Parrott, Solacom’s vice president of sales. “We are proud that this PSAP has all the features it needs to manage any emergency call from any device, at any time, from anywhere, and in any format — voice, data, and video.”
About RapidSOS
RapidSOS is an advanced emergency technology company. Formed in 2012 and backed by top Silicon Valley technologists, RapidSOS is partnering with technology companies and the public safety community to provide transformative data in emergencies. RapidSOS is developing technology to predict and pre-empt emergencies before they occur, dynamically warn people in harm’s way, and link data from connected devices to first responders in an emergency. RapidSOS was named “2016 Start-Up of the Year” by the Consumer Technology Association, a Top Innovation of 2015 by MIT News, and Top 3 Innovative World Technology by SXSW. Learn more at www.RapidSOS.com.
About Solacom
Solacom 9-1-1 call handling and management solutions are built on more than 30 years of research and innovation in the application of advanced hardware and software technologies for public safety. Today, Solacom Guardian 9-1-1 solutions support thousands of agencies affecting millions of lives annually. From dense urban environments to statewide deployments, Solacom solutions are trusted to streamline 9-1-1 call handling and management processes and enable more efficient collection of critical information in emergency situations. For more information, visit: www.solacom.com.