Google and Apple Developing Android and iOS Tracking System for COVID-19

In the hopes of further contributing to the fight against the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, tech giants Google and Apple have come together to develop a comprehensive contact-tracking system in order to track the outspread within communities.

The new system will work in tandem with existing public health apps on both Android and iOS devices and will be deployed in two key stages. The first stage will see the two companies release application programming interfaces allowing for interoperability between the two mobile operating systems for health-related apps. The second stage will then see the release of a “broader” Bluetooth-based contact-tracing by building the feature directly into both Android and iOS.

“All of us at Apple and Google believe there has never been a more important moment to work together to solve one of the world’s most pressing problems,” said the two companies in a joint statement. “Through close cooperation and collaboration with developers, governments and public health providers, we hope to harness the power of technology to help countries around the world slow the spread of COVID-19 and accelerate the return of everyday life.”

There’s currently no official date from either Google or Apple on when the system will deploy.

In other tech-related news, Olympus and Leica are hosting online courses and talks on photography.