Apple’s iOS 12 to improve 911 emergency calls for iPhones

Along with the advent of iOS 12, Apple has also brought a new feature for its iPhone users as an attempt to ensure their safety.

Apple recently announced that its users in the United States will get a new safety feature update for its emergency 911 calls where they can share their accurate location with first responders, that too very securely.

As Apple explains, at present, around 80% 911 calls come from mobiles, but it is often difficult for 911 centers to immediately make out caller’s accurate location. Apple’s new update will initiate later this year with iOS 12 and as per the company, it is aimed to provide faster and more exact data in order to cut down the emergency response time.

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For this update, Apple used HELO (Hybridized Emergency Location), a service it introduced back in 2015 for estimating a caller’s location via cell towers, GPS and Wi-Fi access points. Along with it, Apple announced that it will also use emergency technology firm RapidSOS’s Internet Protocol-based data pipeline for rapid and secure HELO location data sharing with 911 centers, also advancing response times.

RapidSOS’s system will efficiently deliver the emergency location information of the iOS users by integrating with several 911 centers’ prevailing software that relies on industry-standard protocols.

“Communities rely on 911 centers in an emergency, and we believe they should have the best available technology at their disposal. When every moment counts, these tools will help first responders reach our customers when they most need assistance,” said CEO Tim Cook.

Apple clarified that the user data provided to the centers cannot be used for any other non-emergency reasons and will only be accessible to the responding 911 centers for obtaining user location during an emergency call.

“We are excited to work with Apple to provide first responders a new path for accurate, device-based caller location using transformative Next Generation 911 technology,” expressed RapidSOS CEO Michael Martin.