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FirstNet-related Tactical LTE Communications System at Urban Shield ExerciseOAKLAND, Calif. --(Business Wire)-- At Urban Shield 2014, Mutualink, Sonim and Oceus will participate in a FirstNet-related deployment of an Enhanced System on Wheels (ESOW). The exercise will give public safety officials in northern California the opportunity to prepare for a coordinated, multi-agency, emergency response using advanced collaboration across LTE (News - Alert) Band 14. During the Urban Shield exercise, officials from the Northern California Regional Intelligence Center (NCRIC), Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), and other agencies will communicate and collaborate with onsite SWAT teams, during a simulated emergency incident involving a terrorist boarding a public transit vehicle. The ESOW will enable all parties to share real-time video, images and voice communications using mobile phones and tablets on the scene. An ESOW provides secure local, multimedia multiparty collaboration capability between user equipment and legacy devices, such as video cameras and land mobile radios (LMRs). Mike Sena, Director of the Northern California Regional Intelligence Center (NCRIC), commented, "When we first explored options for interoperability between agencies, we found Mutualink was the only platform that allowed agencies to share audio, video and digital files over a secure network. We currently use the technology at various agencies within the San Francisco Bay area, and our goal is to continue the growth of the network within the region. A key feature of the system is that we can include first responders as well as other public and private entities for community-wide coordination." "This exercise at Urban Shield is another proof-point of FirstNet's mission for delivering nationwide broadband capability for public safety, and further evidence that the future is now when it comes to next-generation technologies for first responders and emergency personnel," said Dr. Mike Wengrovitz, Mutualink's Vice President of Innovation. "First responders and mission-critical personnel need the ability to access relevant information quickly to help assess a situation and become more efficient in making time-critical decisions. This exercise will showcase technology that addresses these needs today," said Bob Escalle, Senior Director of Public Safety and Defense for Sonim. Mutualink's technology will serve as the interoperable communications platform for the ESOW enabling real-time sharing of radio, voice, text, video, data and location information in a secure environment. Mutualink serves as the gateway for bridging disparate systems so that all parties responding to an emergency can communicate and collaborate in real time. Sonim Technologies will provide handheld devices for the ESOW based on their ultra-rugged features such as 20+ hours of LTE based talk time, extreme durability in heat, dust, wet environments, visibility in direct sunlight and support for a wide range of android applications and accessories with full support of LTE Band 14. World-class rugged performance standards combined with an unprecedented industry leading 3-year warranty to protect even the most active users from accidental damage deliver the lowest total cost of ownership in the industry. Xiphos, Oceus Networks' 4G LTE lightweight deployable communications system - a complete mobile "network in the box" - will provide the Band 14 broadband network for Urban Shield participants. The solution demonstrates interoperability and integration between first responders utilizing Mutualink applications, Sonim devices, and COTS WiFi (News - Alert)-enabled devices. "Deployable technology creates an environment that allows First Responders to literally bring the network with them, delivering coverage when and where it is needed to operate as part of a larger network or as a standalone node. We are excited to bring our proven technology to the Public Safety community and demonstrate how broadband solutions can transform the first responder mission in the field," said Jim Patterson, Oceus Networks' Vice President of Public and Federal Solutions. Urban Shield is a full-scale regional preparedness exercise assessing the Bay Area's Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) response capabilities related to multi-discipline planning, policies, procedures, organization, equipment and training. Urban Shield tests regional integrated systems for prevention, protection, response and recovery in high-threat, high-density urban areas. To schedule meetings at Urban Shield with executives involved in the FirstNet ESOW exercise, please contact Beth Clay at [email protected]. About Mutualink Mutualink, Inc. has developed an interoperable communications platform that enables community-wide multimedia sharing of radio, voice, text, video, data files and telephone communications in a secure environment. Mutualink's system is currently deployed by hundreds of public and private entities worldwide, including homeland security and defense installations, NATO Special Operations Forces, police and fire departments, schools, transit authorities, hospitals, shopping malls, casinos, and more. Mutualink is a privately-held company headquartered in Wallingford, Conn., with R&D facilities in Westford, Mass. and Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, and Defense Services office nearby Washington, DC. For more information please visit www.mutualink.net. About Sonim Technologies Sonim Technologies is the provider of the world's most rugged, water-submersible mobile phones designed specifically for workers in challenging outdoor and industrial environments. Sonim's industry-leading three-year comprehensive warranty has redefined customer expectations of rugged technology. Sonim provides a suite of high-performance workforce management applications including push-to-talk, lone worker safety and proof-of-activity services on cellular networks. The company is headquartered in San Mateo, California and offers its products in over 50 countries.
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