TCS’ Interoperability Lab Aims to Help Firms Test Software for Text-to-911 Service; Lynne Seitz Comments

TeleCommunication Systems has expanded the testing services its interoperability laboratory offers to companies that seek to test their software platforms used to process and send emergency text messages to public safety answering points.

TCS said Tuesday Solacom, Airbus DS Communications, ModUcom and Emergency CallWorks completed testing their interfaces for text-to-911 messaging service via Message Session Relay Protocol and Session Initiation Protocol methods as part of their compliance with the National Emergency Number Association i3 standard.

Vendors need to comply with the NENA i3 standard before deploying their SIP/MSRP-based systems among PSAPs.

TCS is collaborating with four additional vendors that seek to subject their interfaces to SIP/MSRP testing through the interoperability lab.

“In our connected society, the ability for PSAPs to accept and process text messages from the public is most often the first step in the transition toward [Next Generation 9-1-1],”  said Lynne Seitz, senior vice president of safety and security group at TCS.