Cingular and BIO-key Introduce New Offer to Help Law Enforcement Stay Connected
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Public Safety Agencies Nationwide Now Have Wireless Access to Critical Information in Officers' Hands to Improve Safety and Efficiency in the Field
ATLANTA and WALL, N.J., July 18 -- Federal and local law enforcement agencies across the country are deploying a new wireless handheld information solution from Cingular Wireless and BIO-key International, Inc. (BULLETIN BOARD: BKYI) that enables officers in the field to quickly access National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and other critical data.
The U.S. Capitol Police, Federal Protective Services and Oklahoma County Sheriff Office are among those public safety organizations that are using the Cingular/BIO-key solution. The solution gives law enforcement officers who are on foot, a bike, horseback, or on special detail the ability to query local, county, state and federal criminal databases using BlackBerry(TM) wireless handhelds and Pocket PC-based wireless PDAs that are equipped with BIO-key's PocketCOP(R) software and operate on Cingular Wireless' nationwide* GSM/GPRS wireless data network. Cingular Wireless operates the largest wireless digital voice and data network in the U.S.
PocketCOP enables real-time access to vehicle registration information, stolen vehicle information, weapon registrations, and wants and warrant information. Thanks to Cingular's wireless data network, officers using the wireless handhelds can also send text messages and e-mail for quiet, inconspicuous communications in the field.
"One of our key selection criteria was the ability for the handhelds to easily tie into our existing system," commented Sheriff John Whetsel of the Oklahoma County Sheriff Office. "BIO-key's PocketCOP solution does this and gives our officers the tools to do their jobs as efficiently as possible, saving time while keeping them in constant communication with dispatch and the rest of our Deputies, wherever they are."
"We're working with Cingular to deliver a scalable, fully integrated mobile information solution for law enforcement," said Mike DePasquale, CEO of BIO-key International, Inc. "PocketCOP connects wireless handhelds to more state interfaces than any other product on the market. When combined with our VirtualCOP(TM) server, which interfaces to more than 30 CAD systems, we have the most flexible, cost effective solution available. With PocketCOP running over Cingular's nationwide data network, we can offer unprecedented value to our customers in terms of coverage and capacity."
Cingular provides law enforcement and public safety agencies with a variety of mobile device platforms including trunk mounted wireless modems and laptops with EDGE-enabled PC modem cards in addition to the new PocketCOP solution for handhelds and wireless PDAs. The backbone of the system is Cingular's GSM/GPRS network, which provides wide area coverage for reliable data connectivity across the country in 13,000 cities and towns and along 40,000 miles of interstate highways. This helps ensure sufficient capacity for communication between law enforcement officers and the stationhouse -- even during peak network usage. Deploying wireless handhelds from Cingular enabled with PocketCOP can reduce traffic on a law enforcement agency's private radio channels, keeping them open for critical communications.
"Cingular is leveraging BIO-key's proven technology to offer a robust handheld-based solution for law enforcement that complements our in-vehicle services," said Abhi Ingle, executive director, business data solutions, for Cingular Wireless. "Cingular's extensive public safety portfolio, supported by our deep government expertise and dedicated sales team, is helping law enforcement officials make significant improvements to officer safety and efficiency in fighting crime."
BIO-key's Pocket COP features the most advanced data security that exceeds CJIS Governing Board standards. Security features include end-to-end AES encryption, user ID, password and device authentication at logon, plus audit trail via log server to monitor activity. Cingular adds an additional layer of security in its GPRS network with 64-bit A5 encryption with authentication protocols for added security and wireless data compression for enhanced speed. Cingular Wireless counts over 1,200 federal, state and local government agencies as customers, and provides wireless services to 95 of the Fortune 100 companies and more than 80 percent of the Fortune 500.
About BIO-key
BIO-key develops and delivers advanced identification solutions and information services to law enforcement departments, public safety agencies, government and private sector customers. BIO-key's mobile wireless technology provides first responders with critical, reliable, real-time data and images from local, state and national databases. BIO-key's high-performance, scalable, cost-effective and easy-to-deploy biometric finger identification technology accurately identifies and authenticates users of wireless and enterprise data to improve security, convenience and privacy and to reduce identity theft. Over 2,500 police, fire and emergency services departments in North America use BIO-key solutions, making BIO-key the leading supplier of mobile and wireless solutions for public safety worldwide. (http://www.bio-key.com/)
About Cingular Wireless
Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States, Serving 50.4 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture between SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE:SBC) and BellSouth Corporation (NYSE:BLS), has the largest digital voice and data network in the nation -- the ALLOVER(SM) network -- and the largest mobile-to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier. Cingular is the only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover(SM), the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Details of the company are available at www.cingular.com/ . Get Cingular Wireless press releases e-mailed to you automatically. Sign up at www.cingular.com/newsroom .
* Not available in all areas
CONTACT: John Kampfe of Cingular Wireless, +1-908-696-4536 (office), +1-908-432-3473 (wireless); Julie Garand of BIO-key International, Inc., +1-508-460-4036, julie.garand@bio-key.com
