- what3words divided the world into a grid of 10ft x 10ft squares, labeling each one with a unique three-word identifier – a what3words address. For example, the entrance to the RapidSOS New York office can be found at ///item.wire.flight.
- Through this game-changing partnership, the RapidSOS Platform will share the what3words address with Emergency Communication Centers (ECCs), allowing them to coordinate multiple teams and field responders, based on the caller’s precise 10ft square.
New York, NY – March 31, 2021 ー RapidSOS today announced a groundbreaking partnership with location technology company what3words, to deliver accurate location data to first responders in an emergency. Built in partnership with public safety, RapidSOS’s emergency response data platform securely and automatically links life-saving data from connected devices directly to over 5,500 ECCs in the U.S.
Communicating the right location in an emergency is crucial, but not always easy. Street addresses today do not always point to precise locations, and many parts of America do not have an address; such as parks, forests and coastlines. Moreover, ECCs in the U.S. and around the world rely on the limited information a phone call can provide and the result is often delays in dispatching and responders arriving on scene, under-informed.
what3words technology is used all around the world by businesses and individuals who want to find and share any location down to a 10-foot square. The technology is used across many sectors from automotive to logistics, but crucially, emergency services. Together, RapidSOS and what3words can empower faster and more effective emergency response and provide field responders with the critical information they need to save lives across the United States, and eventually internationally as well.
When a caller dials 911, the what3words address of their current location will be securely delivered to ECCs via RapidSOS. Telecommunicators will be able to see this information displayed directly on their screens on the RapidSOS Platform. RapidSOS will continue to update the telecommunicator with the caller’s latest what3words address, in the case that the caller moves out of their original 10-foot square.
Telecommunicators can then pass the what3words address to field responders. Unlike coordinates or pins, what3words addresses are simple to communicate and can be shared between teams, agencies and across different platforms. The caller does not need to have the what3words application on their smartphone in order for this information to be relayed via RapidSOS. The two companies also plan to introduce new features to enhance their joint solution in the coming months.
“In an emergency, there are often many stakeholders involved in coordinating a response. By having one precise, easily communicable address, multiple teams can pass the location amongst each other seamlessly and provide help faster,” adds Chris Sheldrick, CEO and co-founder of what3words. “The emergency services already do phenomenal work, but any additional tools we can provide them to make their job easier is something we’re incredibly humbled to do.”
“Location is one of the most important pieces of information in an emergency. Together with what3words, we’re able to provide people with an added layer of safety and security, while supporting our heroic first responders in saving millions of lives annually,” said Jeremy Habberley, Director of Global Accounts at RapidSOS. “We’re united in our commitment to create a safer, stronger future where technology and people work together seamlessly to protect and save lives.”
As an early adopter of what3words and RapidSOS user, Mountain Valley Emergency Communication Center (MVECC) in New Jersey has witnessed first-hand the impact of this technology. “Our immediate objective with what3words was to secure a redundant and reliable location determination tool,” said Executive Director D. Jeremy DeMar. “A few weeks into using what3words, a member of our community slid off the roadway in a snowstorm and was unable to provide us with a dispatchable location. what3words proved to be a critical tool during this incident. Being able to see this information displayed directly on the RapidSOS Platform will enable our emergency personnel to easily access this life-saving piece of information in real-time.”
With the launch of this solution this month, what3words technology will be recognized as RapidSOS Ready – allowing critical location data to be sent directly to local ECCs through the RapidSOS Platform. To learn more about the solution, visit what3words.com/news/emergency/what3words-integrates-with-rapidsos.
About what3words
Find your what3words address here.
what3words is the simplest way to talk about location. The system covers the entire world, never needs updating, and works offline. A what3words address is a human-friendly way to share very precise locations with other people, or to input them into platforms and machines such as ride-hailing apps or e-commerce checkouts. It is optimised for voice input and contains built-in error prevention to immediately identify and correct input mistakes.
The free what3words app, available for iOS and Android, and the online map enable people to find, share and navigate to what3words addresses in over 45 languages to date. Millions of what3words addresses are in use around the world, with thousands of businesses using them to save money, be more efficient and provide a better customer experience. what3words is integrated into apps, platforms and websites, with just a few lines of code. Products are available for free or for a nominal fee for qualifying NGOs. Its partners include Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Triumph Motorcycles, USA national parks and emergency services in 10 markets across the world.
About RapidSOS, Inc.
In partnership with public safety, RapidSOS has created the world’s first intelligent safety platform that securely links life-saving data from over 500 million connected devices, apps and sensors directly to safety agents, 911 and first responders. To learn more about our technology that’s creating life-saving connections, visit www.rapidsos.com.
Contact
what3words
support@what3words.com
RapidSOS
Loren Bolton
lbolton@rapidsos.com