Apple and Google announce partnership to help track COVID-19 infections
What you need to know
- Apple and Google are partnering to fight COVID-19.
- The companies are working on technology to help with contact tracing.
- They will use Bluetooth technology to help keep user privacy in check.
Apple has announced a joint partnership with Google to assist governments and health agencies in fighting against the coronavirus pandemic. Apple made the announcement in a press release on the Apple Newsroom website this afternoon.
The companies have recognized contact tracing as a valuable tool in slowing the spread of the virus, and have committed to building a solution that uses Bluetooth technology to help track the pandemic. The companies say that using Bluetooth, rather than location tracking, will enable a level of user privacy that it hopes people will be comfortable with.
The companies will be rolling out the new technology in two stages, beginning in May. The first step will be to release APIs that enable apps developed to use the technology to work on both iOS and Android.
The second stage of the effort will focus on building a "Bluetooth-based contact tracing platform" into iOS and Android. According to Apple, this will enable users to opt into the program as well as help more apps to utilize it.
The companies believe that "there has never been a more important moment to work together" and hope that the technology could bring vital tools to those fighting the virus.
You can read the full press release at the Apple Newsroom website.
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