M/A-COM Offers Text Messaging For Its P25 IP Systems

M/A-COM, Inc., a business unit of Tyco Electronics and a worldwide leader of critical radio communication systems, today announced the expansion of its Project 25 to the Power of IP (P25^IP) product line to include full text messaging capabilities. Known as Radio TextLink, M/A-COM's text messaging application enables mobile users to receive, display and respond to text messages sent from authorized users of M/A-COM's P25^IP equipment. This feature improves real-time situation intelligence and communications among first responders, while also providing the capability to leave messages with mobile users who are actively engaged in other mission critical activities.

"As data and messaging becomes increasingly critical for public safety radio communications, it's vital that the systems and the equipment supporting these operations include full text messaging functionality, enabling users to establish and maintain contact with each other during crisis situations," said Rick Hundstad, data product manager, M/A-COM. "This new feature addition to our P25^IP offering in no way substitutes for reliable voice communications, but it is an important tool that public safety first responders can use to quickly send short, pre-set and free formed messages to effectively organize mission critical response efforts."

The M/A-COM Radio TextLink text messaging system is similar in functionality to current SMS service on commercial networks, but it has been optimized for public safety requirements. The Radio TextLink system consists of three main components: a host application, the Radio Message Router and a client application:

• Host Application: The application typically resides on a PC-based dispatch console or CAD station where the operator enters free form text messages to be displayed on the receiving radio control head.
• The Radio TextLink Server (RTS): The RTS provides alias/user ID to IP translations and then forwards the message to the intended recipient(s). The RTS is the foundation for M/A-COM's messaging system across all of M/A-COM's radio platforms and provides logging of messages and IP interface setting to other applications as well as web based information, such as Amber Alerts.
• Client Application: The client application resides in the portable or mobile radio. This application receives text messages and scrolls them across the radio display. The operator can easily toggle between the normal radio display and a list of received messages. The operator can quickly respond to received messages with a user friendly keypad response (ex. selecting "Yes" or "No" on the display). The system works in a similar manner for portable-to-portable text messaging, with a selection of pre-defined messages.

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