Two of the world's leading tech companies, Apple and Google, are joining forces to leverage digital tools in the global battle against the deadly coronavirus.
The companies have announced a collaborative effort to assist healthcare providers worldwide in using smartphones to combat the COVID-19 outbreak.
How Will the New Joint Technology Work?
The software that Apple and Google plan to integrate into smartphones will streamline the use of Bluetooth wireless technology for tracking individuals infected with the coronavirus.
The goal is to support national, state, and local governments globally in deploying contact-tracing applications. This new development will be implemented on both iPhones and Android devices.
Working mechanism of the joint technology
The system operates by utilizing short-range Bluetooth signals. Through this Apple-Google technology, contact-tracing apps will gather data on other phones that have been in close proximity.
This information can then be used to alert healthy individuals who may have unknowingly interacted with coronavirus patients.
Similar contact-tracing technologies are already operational in several countries. IT specialists in Singapore and China are actively using such systems. The Czech Republic plans to release a similar app after Easter. The UK, Germany, and Italy are also developing their own tracking tools.
With Apple and Google entering the fight against the pandemic, there is renewed hope that a significant number of infections can be prevented.
Privacy advocates warn that these applications must be designed to prevent abuse by authorities and intelligence agencies, thereby protecting citizens' rights. In a rare joint statement, Apple and Google emphasized that user privacy and security remain their top priorities.
Earlier, South Korea launched a free smartphone disinfection service, an initiative by Samsung that has become highly relevant during the pandemic.
