Apple and Google Alliance against the Coronavirus. (Image: blog.google)
The contagion of Covid-19 is skyrocketing worldwide and two of the largest companies on the planet, "enemies" forever, come together to combat this global pandemic . Historic news that brings out the positive side of this global he alth alert.
Since these two companies cover 99% of the operating system that all mobile devices on the planet have, in May both companies will launch APIs that allow interoperability between Android and iOS devices using apps from the authorities of public he alth.These official apps will be available for users to download via their respective App Stores
In the coming months, Apple and Google will work to enable a broader Bluetooth-based contact tracing platform. They will incorporate this functionality in iOS and Android through an update of the operating system that will incorporate that app natively. This is a more robust solution than an API and would allow more people to participate.
Yes, in order to use it and know if we have been exposed to the virus, we will have to accept the terms and accept its use. It will be optional to access this service.
How the platform with which Apple and Google will fight Covid-19 would work:
With this future platform we will be able to know if we have been exposed to the virus, based on the information collected by our phones about who we have been with or who we have been next to.
In the following screenshots we can see how it works:
Apple/Google Capture
In the image above we can see the following story:
- Alicia and Bob talk for 10 minutes.
- Bob, at the same time, tests positive for Covid-19 and enters the test result in an app from a public he alth authority.
- Using Bluetooth, their phones anonymously exchange beacon identifiers.
- A few days later, with Bob's consent, his phone loads the last 14 days of cloud beacon keys from people he has come across.
Apple/Google
In the following screenshot we can see how the story continues:
- Alicia continues her day to day without knowing that she has been close to a potentially contagious person.
- Alice sees a notification on her phone.
- Her phone periodically downloads the beacon emission keys of everyone who has tested positive for Covid-19 in her region. She finds a match for Bob'sanonymous identifiers.
- Some time later, Alicia's phone receives a notification with information about what to do next.
This platform and corresponding apps will be available in the coming months and the data shared with it will be COMPLETELY ANONYMOUS.
Privacy, transparency and consent are paramount in this initiative.
A historic alliance and that if we all support by accepting the use of the application that is developed, it will help us put a stop to this damn virus and will serve for possible future pandemics.
If you want to know more about this information, we recommend that you read the Apple blog or the Google blog .
Greetings.
