O2 Airwave launches location service

Airwave Locator is a new asset management system aimed at all public safety organisations including police and national roamers that need to know the whereabouts of their people and assets.

The service operates on a national basis and will enhance the safety and efficiency of lone workers. Managers are able to obtain frequent updates of the location of their workers right down to street level.

The new service can help improve operational efficiency by providing managers with an accurate overview of where personnel are located at any given time. This enables people to be deployed where it makes most sense and enhances resource planning.

Beyond having GPS enabled terminals, no specialist software or hardware is required to activate Airwave Locator. The service is fully managed by O2 Airwave, with no capital outlay for equipment and minimal administration needed.

The Airwave Locator service works by interacting with GPS-enabled radios connected to the Airwave service and provides the location information (to within approximately 10 metres) on a screen overlaid with UK mapping data, to a scale of 1:10,000. This information can be accessed from the office or whilst on the move through a dedicated Internet portal using a standard browser.

As with the Airwave service, security of the system is paramount. The Airwave Locator service is inherently secure, with only authorised personnel able to access location information via the dedicated secure Internet portal.

There are two service options available, based on the frequency of reporting and positional information: Airwave Locator Standard enables online monitoring of the mobile workforce whilst Airwave Locator Plus additionally provides access to management reports, together with the ability to set real-time trails, audit trails, speed surveillance and arrival alerts.

Following successful customer trials, Airwave has also taken the decision to deploy the service in parts of its field based service team, enabling improvements in efficiency and employee safety.Paul Long, marketing director at O2 Airwave said: “There is a need within the public sector for a cost effective and easy to use location based service. O2 Airwave has developed a product that can meet the needs of many different types of users from national roamers to local authorities needing to monitor their traffic wardens. The introduction of Airwave Locator to the Airwave portfolio means that more mobile workers will be able to benefit from the remote monitoring advantages already afforded to the emergency services.”