SAN MATEO, Calif., Oct. 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Sonim Technologies, maker of the world's toughest mobile phones, provided state and local public safety officials and first responders with rugged smartphone technology that helped them respond more quickly and efficiently to emergencies at large scale events.

Sonim supplied personnel from Albuquerque Police, Fire, and EMS, the State of New Mexico Department of Public Safety, the State of New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services and State Fair and Balloon Fiesta Security with XP7 LTE Android smartphones.

New Mexico is one five of states in the country that have received federal grants to begin early deployments of a public safety LTE broadband network utilizing the FirstNet-allocated LTE Band Class 14 wireless spectrum.

The Sonim XP7 smartphones were equipped with ESChat^® by SLA Corporation and STING^® by Intrepid Networks, two applications that collectively provide encrypted Push to Talk over LTE voice communication and enhanced situational awareness. This provided public safety officials and first responders with secure communications and a clear understanding of the location of personnel to drastically improve response times.

ESChat operating on the FirstNet ready XP7 provides first responders a secure communication platform with the dedicated LTE bandwidth required to meet the needs for mission critical PTT operations.

"The ESChat system also includes full integration with the public safety P25 radio networks and dispatch environment," said Josh Lober, president of SLA Corporation, which makes the ESChat product. "This ability enables interoperable PTT communication between various agencies responding to a single incident site."

"The Push to Talk feature has been super helpful," said Captain Jackie White of the Albuquerque Fire Department. "Communications are always challenging at an event like this. On the Sonim devices there is no interference at all.  Communication is very clear like you and I are talking right in front of each other."

Voice communications are critical to public safety operations, yet audio alone does not provide enough situational awareness, particularly in large events. Situational awareness technology such as STING increases effectiveness of public safety personnel and first responders.

"Our STING software corrects this problem by creating a digital Common Operating Picture that visually communicates descriptions, multimedia and locations between operators and commanders who are now fully coordinated and informed," said Britt Kane, CEO, Intrepid Networks. "For example, at the New Mexico State Fair, STING assisted the officers on duty to locate several missing children in less than 10 minutes."

Robert Escalle, Sonim's vice president of public safety and defense said New Mexico's XP7 deployment is one of many currently underway around the country. "Sonim is focused on developing the best, most rugged customized communication solutions that exceed the needs of public safety personnel and first responders. We are excited to be a part of this innovation trend and are committed to serving the brave men and women who protect our communities."

Sonim is the first and only Tier One smartphone manufacturer to release a commercially available smartphone platform that enables first responders to get broadband access on both the FirstNet Band Class 14 spectrum and on commercial mobile networks. The XP7's key strengths include its 4,800-milliamp battery, 40 hours of LTE-based talk time, extreme durability in hot, dusty and wet environments, visibility under direct sunlight and support for a wide range of Android applications.

ABOUT SONIM TECHNOLOGIES:
Sonim Technologies (http://www.sonimtech.com) is the provider of mission-critical solutions designed specifically for workers in extreme, hazardous and isolated environments. The Sonim solution includes ultra-rugged mobile phones, business-process applications and a suite of industrial-grade accessories, collectively designed to increase worker productivity, accountability and safety on the job site. Sonim's industry-leading, 3-year comprehensive warranty has redefined customer expectations of rugged technology. The company is headquartered in San Mateo, Calif., and offers its products with mobile operators around the world.

ABOUT SLA:
Based in San Luis Obispo, California, San Luis Aviation, Inc. dba SLA is a privately held corporation focused on secure wireless communication systems. Since 1991, SLA's team has provided solutions for military and space satellite applications, and also the wireless telecommunications industry.

SLA's Enterprise Secure Chat (ESChat) is today's solution of choice for military, government and commercial business users.  ESChat includes AES-256 encrypted Push to Talk (PTT) voice, encrypted multimedia messaging and both live and historical GPS location services.

For additional information, please visit:http://www.eschat.com/.

ABOUT INTREPID NETWORKS:
Intrepid Networks (www.intrepid-networks.com) is the provider of mission critical software solutions designed specifically to provide real time Situational Awareness for the tactical, intelligence and Public Safety community. Their solutions provide several operational benefits to users to collectively improve officer safety, reduce liability risk and increase operational efficiency. STING^®, our core product line, currently serves several Federal, State, County and Municipal agencies in the United States and has received NTOA Member Tested and Recommended accreditation.

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SOURCE Sonim Technologies