NICE Systems Tests Next Generation 911 Interoperability

NICE Systems (News - Alert) has announced at the NENA (National Emergency Number Association) ICE 8 conference that its Next Generation 911 recording solutions are now interoperable with a number of other vendors.

“The key to a successful evolution to NG9-1-1 is standards and interoperability, and we are pleased with the progress we have achieved through our collaboration with NENA and other industry partners,” said Eric Hines, vice president of the NICE Security Group. “The interoperability testing we have conducted will ultimately give public safety agencies the flexibility to implement a myriad of NG9-1-1 solutions without any concerns about interoperability challenges.”

NICE systems participated in the event with more than two other dozen vendors providing public safety solutions. The main emphasis was on interoperability. NICE confirmed interoperability with a number of i3 interfaces, meaning that customers would be able to record next-generation 911 calls with confidence.

“Through the ICE initiative, NENA is proud to provide a space for all relevant players to come together in an open, collaborative atmosphere to test the products and services that will ultimately enable Next Generation 911 and improve emergency responses for all citizens in need,” said NENA President Bernard Brown, ENP. “We thank the Illinois Institute of Technology for hosting this critical event and INdigital for assisting in establishing the network connectivity between participants.”

Next Generation 911 is a major overhaul of the familiar 911 emergency service familiar to Americans. It first appeared in 1968 and is still a product of the era of landline phone service. The new system brings 911 into the 21st century with the ability of callers to send text, pictures and video to 911 operators.

The text feature is useful for people with impaired hearing, while the video and picture features allow dispatchers to get a better idea of the extent of an emergency. Operators can also broadcast messages to mobile phone users in a certain area.