Apple and Google Join Forces to Develop COVID-19 Contact Tracing Technology

"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," Sundar Pichai and Tim Cook, the CEOs of Google and Apple, said Friday on their blogs and in tweets.

The idea is to ensure that smartphones equipped with Apple’s iOS or Google’s Android software can exchange information via Bluetooth to ensure contact tracing and alert other users. "Given the urgent need, the goal is to implement this solution in two stages, while maintaining safeguards to ensure user privacy," the two giants said.

According to AFP, the communications will be short-range between devices. The individual who tests positive for covid-19 will be able to report it on their smartphone. Thus, all devices connected in the vicinity of the patient’s smartphone and having the code of an encrypted key will emit an alert to inform the holders. This exchange of information will be very useful for the authorities. They will know precisely the affected areas and the number of cases of contamination.

"Through close cooperation and collaboration with developers, governments and public health authorities, we hope to harness the power of technology to help countries around the world slow the spread of COVID-19 and accelerate the return to everyday life," Apple and Google hope.