Apple and Google announced a partnership on Friday in which the two companies will work together to provide tools that will help track the spread of coronavirus. By allowing cross-platform users to share data through Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) transmissions and approved apps from health organizations.

“Google and Apple are announcing a joint effort to enable the use of Bluetooth technology to help governments and health agencies reduce the spread of the virus, with user privacy and security central to the design,” a press release announcing the partnership said.

Message from Tech leaders:

Apple and Google said both Tech-Gaint companies will launch a pair of iOS and Andriod APIs which allow both the users to “enable interoperability between Android and iOS devices using apps from public health authorities.” 

Sundar Pichai (CEO of Google said in the tweet):

To help public health officials slow the spread of #COVID19, Google & @Apple are working on a contact tracing approach designed with strong controls and protections for user privacy. @tim_cook and I are committed to working together on these efforts.https://t.co/T0j88YBcFu

— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) April 10, 2020

The same commitment made by CEO of Apple INC, Tim Cook:

Contact tracing can help slow the spread of COVID-19 and can be done without compromising user privacy. We’re working with @sundarpichai & @Google to help health officials harness Bluetooth technology in a way that also respects transparency & consent. https://t.co/94XlbmaGZV

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) April 10, 2020

Technology in action:

the Cross-Platform would use short-range Bluetooth communications to establish a voluntary contact-tracing network. here Bluetooth is used to track the location of a phone. (because Bluetooth beacons allow more accurate position than a cellular signal or GPS.)

the APIs from Google and Apple will allow developers to use Bluetooth to let people know when they’ve come into contact with someone who has been diagnosed with coronavirus. this process is called contact tracing.

Google explained about contact tracing: https://blog.google/documents/57/Overview_of_COVID-19_Contact_Tracing_Using_BLE.pdf

Users have to download the app and that app will push you a notification whenever you cross paths with someone who ends up testing positive for coronavirus, you may be alerted that you’ve come in contact with coronavirus.

Official apps from public health authorities will get access to this data, and users who download them can report if they’ve been diagnosed with Novel Coronavirus. The system will also alert people who download them to whether they were in close contact with an infected person.
The data will “only be used for contact tracing by public health authorities for COVID-19 pandemic management” Google says.

Most Importantly, this action is contact tracing, which means users will need to agree to be tracked if they want to participate.

This Initiative will allow controlling the unroll of the virus and we all will be updated if we came in contact with someone who’s suffering from novel pandemic

Hope You all are safe and let’s pray together for those who are infected and don’t forget to spread this article.

Comment your views on how we can help government officials and other people with the help of technology. and “Stay Home, Stay Safe“