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Mobile Command Post Technologies – improve field communications
Most law enforcement and emergency responders will agree the single most important factor after a catastrophic event is maintaining order, providing aid and restoring stable, effective communications in the field, which becomes a monumental task when traditional power is unavailable. In early 2013, the Harris County Sheriff Office Mobile Command Unit met to analyze the deficiencies of existing equipment and formulated a plan for comprehensive technological updates. Recognizing budgetary limitations, grant funding was sought for these necessary upgrades. The Federal Department of Justice agreed to allow the Sheriff’s Office to use a portion of existing Justice Assistance Grant funding to support the technological updates recommended by the Mobile Command team. Over the next ten months, the Mobile Communications Unit received a massive technology “face-lift” that included some very notable enhancements that brought this Unit into the forefront of public safety mobile communications.
Mutualink, Intel team to provide wearable public-safety gateway with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth connectivity
Mutualink recently unveiled its Wearable Smart Gateway that is designed to let public-safety users securely connect multiple wearable or carried monitors and devices into a lightweight hub powered by Intel’s Edison chip that was developed specifically for Internet of Things (IoT) applications. With the Wearable Smart Gateway, myriad devices—from biometric sensors to body-worn cameras—can be connected via wire, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi with a paired public-safety user at the lightweight device, according to Mike Wengrovitz, Mutualink’s vice president of innovation. Information stored at the gateway can be shared directly in close proximity via the secure Bluetooth or Wi-Fi links to enable on-scene collaboration, he said.
Mutualink Partners with School Safety Expert in Shared Mission to Speed Response Time during School Emergencies
Wallingford, CT – Mutualink today announced an alliance with one of the Nation's top school safety and security experts, William "Bill" Smith, to improve schools' preparedness and response in emergency situations through advanced communications technology. As the founding member of American School Safety.com, LLC and principal of Jennings Smith Associates , Mr. Smith brings over thirty years of experience as a security consultant and is a reknowned authority on US school safety and security issues....
Mutualink Earns Homeland Security SAFETY Act Certification
Wallingford, CT – Mutualink today announced that the company’s secure communications platform for real-time collaboration has received Designation and Certification from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under the SAFETY Act (Support Anti-terrorism by Fostering Effective Technology). Mutualink is the only multimedia interoperable communications product certified under the SAFETY Act and included on the “Approved Products List for Homeland Security.” Mutualink’s DHS Designation and Certification are effective through October 31, 2020. The SAFETY Act, which was authorized as part of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, provides legal liability protections to providers of anti-terrorism technologies that could save lives in the event of a terrorist attack. Mutuaink’s Certification is the highest level of certification available under the SAFETY Act and requires an extensive and rigorous product review process involving product quality assurance, operational effectiveness and product capability and reliability verification, among other criteria. Having achieved this, customers using Mutualink’s certified technology now have protection under the SAFETY Act from lawsuits or claims arising from acts of terrorism.
Mutualink Delivers Video Sharing Push-to-Talk Solution
Chicago, IL – At IACP 2015 today, Mutualink introduced Edge @Team – one of the first-ever Push-to-Talk (PTT) offerings to enable users to securely send and receive streaming video, voice and text in real time. The added “Push to See” functionality is extremely useful for law enforcement, public safety personnel, and any organization using PTT as part of their daily communications needs. Unlike alternative solutions, @Team exists on a nationwide, secure broadband network, enabling unprecedented inter-agency communication. Demonstrations of @Team’s capabilities can be seen at Booth 2244 at IACP. As Mutualink’s latest mobile solution for first responders, @Team seamlessly integrates into the Interoperable Response and Preparedness Platform (IRAPP) – the nation’s largest nationwide network of state and local responder agencies, emergency operations centers, and other critical entities. Within this environment, @Team will provide LTE (either commercial 4G or FirstNet) to LMR functionality and deliver and receive real-time video situational awareness to talkgroups and interoperable communication sessions. Mutualink’s solution is priced competitively with currently-available PTT products, while offering significant value-added features.
Mutualink Unveils World’s First Wearable Gateway for First Responders Using Intel® Technology
WALLINGFORD, Conn., – Mutualink has developed the world’s first wearable communications gateway that enables first responders to share multimedia information with command posts and other agencies in real time over secure wide area networks. In emergency situations where saving time = saving lives, the Wearable Smart Gateway™ (WSG™), powered by the tiny and ultra-low power Intel® Edison™ chip, significantly reduces response times and helps first responders overcome the classic challenges of situational “blindness.” The WSG bridges critical devices used by first responders – including body cameras, heart rate monitors, locator beacons, and other handheld sensors – and instantly and securely transmits this data to relevant parties. This capability vastly improves situational awareness and provides unprecedented interoperability to first responders.
New Technology Gives Police Inside Look at Active Shooter Situations
By: Willard Shepard from NBC Miami http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/New-Technology-Gives-Police-Inside-Look-at-Active-Shooter-Situations-330758022.html A move by one South Florida city could save lives if police have to contend with an active shooter. Cutting edge technology is now letting police and emergency responders actually see the danger before they get there. After the horrific tragedy in Oregon, emergency teams across the board are taking a second look at how they would respond. NBC 6 got an inside look at how Miami Beach...
New Disaster Resilient Interoperable Communications Solution Ensures Inter-Agency Collaboration
Wallingford, CT – Mutualink, Inc. and IP Access International announced a new disaster resilient emergency communications solution for public safety and critical infrastructure entities that enables real time, interoperable voice, video and data communications during major disasters. The solution ensures that agencies maintain critical interoperable communications with other agency partners and critical infrastructure entities, even in cases where traditional communications networks are rendered inoperative. By combining Mutualink’s national always-on interoperable network (known as the IRAPP) with IP Access’ advanced broadband satellite solution, agencies can ensure connectivity with critical partners and services in times of disaster. Mutualink’s rapidly growing IRAPP network is the only emergency interoperability network of its kind, also used in daily operations, with more than 1,000 public safety and critical infrastructure entities participating on a nationwide basis.
Universal Emergency Management Technology Adoption Showcases New York State’s Leadership in Disaster Response and Recovery
Wallingford, CT – New York Governor Cuomo’s newly-unveiled “NY Responds” provides advanced emergency management technology from Mutualink to every county in New York State, at no cost to them. With Mutualink’s interoperable communications solution, emergency officials across New York will be able to securely share real-time information with local governments and state agencies. Hundreds of agencies across the U.S. and the globe rely on Mutualink to improve communication and coordination, however, New York is among the first in the nation to implement the technology solution statewide. How Mutualink Works: Mutualink integrates telephone, radio, video and file sharing into one interoperable application. The technology enables emergency managers and first responders to share information securely, seamlessly and in real time. The Mutualink GUI can be accessed via desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones, providing interoperability wherever its users are.
FirstNet in Action: JerseyNet Broadband Network Provides Unobstructed Data Connectivity to First Responders during Atlantic City Concerts
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ – New Jersey's first-ever real-world implementation of FirstNet was an unqualified success, setting a precedent for effectively using the National Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN) to improve communications, security and situational awareness at large-scale public events. The Atlantic City Police Department, in conjunction with the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (OHSP), deployed secure and portable technology during two concerts, allowing reliable, uninterrupted transmission of video, voice and radio communications without reliance on...
New Jersey FirstNet project takes center stage in Atlantic City
By: Kelly Hill from RCRWireless News The FirstNet early builder project in New Jersey, known as JerseyNet, provided Band 14 coverage at a pair of recent weekend beach concerts in Atlantic City, enabling the police department to sidestep the usual crashing of their mobile security cameras and actually use the system as it was meant to be used. It was the first time the Atlantic City Police Department used the LTE Band 14 network to...
New first responder network passes initial test in Atlantic City
New Jersey’s piece of the nation’s emergency communications broadband network got its first test in August when state and local law enforcement tried it for the first time during two large outdoor concerts in Atlantic City. The inaugural real-world implementation of a wireless broadband network for first responders, known as FirstNet, operated without a hitch. Members of the Atlantic City Police Department and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness reported they were able to communicate via radio and cellular channels and share video feeds across the JerseyNet interoperable system during Maroon 5 and Rascal Flats concerts that attracted crowds of nearly 50,000 people each.