Apple, Google team on 'contact tracing' smartphone software to combat spread of COVID-19
Apple and Google have announced a joint effort to utilize Bluetooth technology to help governments and health agencies reduce the spread of COVID-19 worldwide.

Illustration of the contact tracing solution.
Starting in May, both companies will release APIs that enable interoperability between Android and iOS devices using apps from public health authorities to track the spread of COVID-19. These official apps will be available for users to download via their respective app stores.
Apple and Google will work over time to enable a broader Bluetooth-based contact tracing platform. Both companies will incorporate the functionality in Android and iOS as a whole, which allows more individuals to opt in, as well as enable interaction with a broader ecosystem of apps and government health authorities. Apple says that the deeper integration will arrive "in the coming months."
"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," the joint statement said. "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."
The pair have already released draft specifications of the underlying technology. Documentation available includes the Bluetooth specification that will be used to track the spread, the cryptography specification, and a framework API. Apple notes that the trio of documents are subject to modification and extension.
"Privacy, transparency, and consent are of utmost importance in this effort, and we look forward to building this functionality in consultation with interested stakeholders," Apple and Google have said. "We will openly publish information about our work for others to analyze."
Apple has already partnered with the CDC to provide a public COVID-19 iOS app, which contains advice on checking for symptoms, plus self-care tips. The app is available across the US, and the majority of its advice is for users in all states. However, Apple has also added state-specific sections which provide access to their regional health departments' coronavirus pages.
The existing app without contact tracing is available for iPhone and iPad. The same information is available separately on Apple's COVID-19 website, which is also being regularly updated.

Illustration of the contact tracing solution.
Starting in May, both companies will release APIs that enable interoperability between Android and iOS devices using apps from public health authorities to track the spread of COVID-19. These official apps will be available for users to download via their respective app stores.
Apple and Google will work over time to enable a broader Bluetooth-based contact tracing platform. Both companies will incorporate the functionality in Android and iOS as a whole, which allows more individuals to opt in, as well as enable interaction with a broader ecosystem of apps and government health authorities. Apple says that the deeper integration will arrive "in the coming months."
"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," the joint statement said. "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."
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)
The pair have already released draft specifications of the underlying technology. Documentation available includes the Bluetooth specification that will be used to track the spread, the cryptography specification, and a framework API. Apple notes that the trio of documents are subject to modification and extension.
"Privacy, transparency, and consent are of utmost importance in this effort, and we look forward to building this functionality in consultation with interested stakeholders," Apple and Google have said. "We will openly publish information about our work for others to analyze."
Apple has already partnered with the CDC to provide a public COVID-19 iOS app, which contains advice on checking for symptoms, plus self-care tips. The app is available across the US, and the majority of its advice is for users in all states. However, Apple has also added state-specific sections which provide access to their regional health departments' coronavirus pages.
The existing app without contact tracing is available for iPhone and iPad. The same information is available separately on Apple's COVID-19 website, which is also being regularly updated.
Comments
1) they are going to team up
2) iOS and Android devices will ping each other within 10m
3) whomever anyone has been near, where and when will be captured and handed over to any participating gov
the people get to turn it on if they choose?
bahaha, nah
4) the participating governments will use the current emergency powers to make it mandatory for our safety and we will all agree praising such a civic minded idea.
who you met and then where they went and met and who was in the car with you and for how long.
cause at the moment the police are stretched thin as arresting people out for a walk without a good reason - so this will free them up to deal with the crisis.
wow.
meh, you now get life in jail in australia for coughing and in any other way threatening health workers.
this’ll fit right in 😂
but you obviously don't trust Apple to do the right thing.
Are you supposing you're smarter than Apple? Surely not. With the two companies working together so often anymore you'd think you and a few others would be getting over your phobia. Apple obviously trusts them and thus they work together. A LOT.
Hahahahahahah. Hahahahhahaha.
The USA GDP is $22 trillion, so by your logic, all US citizens live in perfect harmony and have zero social problems.
Bugs aren't afraid of money or the size of a company. Humans develop software and they are prone to making mistakes.
No because Google robbed Apples idea to even have the privilege to be in your knockoff.
This should be Apple exclusive software.
He didn't say he did not trust Apple. He said he didn't trust Google. I'm not sure how you misread that.
Jezzzus, talk about paranoid delusions. Take a pill or something. Wait, you probably think the pill will contain nanobots designed to send your thoughts to the NSA. So never mind about the pill....I guess.
We didn't prepare and, after 3 monts we are still not prepared. Existing testing resources have been stretched to the limit and cannot expand further without additional resources being developed. But the federal government is pulling back funding for tests... Go figure.