Apple-Backed Coronavirus Contact-Tracing Tech Set to Arrive Ahead of Schedule

The Apple Coronavirus Contact Tracking API is expected to be launched on April 28. iGeneration). The news came after a meeting between Tim Cook and European Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services, Thierry Breton.

Press and progress on coronavirus contact tracking technology

Breton said in a statement that the first version of the API will be available to developers in a few days. Apple originally announced May as the release date. Moreover said:

It is the responsibility of companies such as Apple to make every effort to develop appropriate technical solutions to make national applications work. Coordination with the health authorities of the EU Member States is essential.

He is said to have put pressure on Tim Cook and asked him to ensure that the contacts search applications work fully on iPhones and other devices. Despite disagreements on privacy issues in France and the UK, specific cases were not discussed during the 30-minute conversation (via Reuters). Breton tweeted that he had “a good conversation” with Apple’s CEO. The European Commissioner held a similar meeting with Google CEO Sundar Pichai earlier this week.

Contact tracking technology uses Bluetooth to decipher whether a person has been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. An application informs the user and he can then take the appropriate measures. Earlier this month, Apple and Google announced a partnership to develop such technology. The first step in this operation is the release and the API that allows various contact tracking applications to communicate with each other. The second proposed step was to integrate the technology into the operating systems of smartphones. This technology is considered to be an essential element in easing locking measures.