Apple and Google team up to fight Covid-19 with contact tracing

Apple and Google team up to allow contact tracing on many of the world’s smartphones.  The technology will alert people if they have recently come into contact with others infected with coronavirus.

The collaboration will open up their mobile operating systems to allow for the creation of contact-tracing apps, which will run on iPhones and Android phones. Also, no GPS location data or personal information would be recorded.

Google and Apple are joining together to enable the use of Bluetooth technology to help governments and health agencies reduce the spread of the virus.

Both Apple and Google will release APIs that allow contact tracing through third-party apps released by public health authorities. Users of both iOS and Android devices can download the official apps.