APX NEXT All Band P25 Smart Radio

Design Challenge: -Integrate advanced capabilities and functionality with the two-way radio reliability demanded by first responders. -Explore and adopt touch screen and voice interfaces with Mission-critical performance to assure a communications lifeline through a variety of modalities. -Provide a platform for new applications and services such as LTE back up and voice query to assure uninterrupted information flow. -Reduce maintenance/downtime with Cloud based provisioning and update features. Enable capabilities such as video, data analytics, and AI applications as needs evolve. -Embody it all in a purpose built form factor designed for the rigors of mission critical conditions.

The APX NEXT solution starts with extensive end user involvement. Developers worked and lived with users in mission critical environments to understand context and identify needs. Rapid prototyping allowed user feedback long before any final Design commitments. Insights enabled the APX NEXT solution to move beyond incremental improvements and embrace new interaction methods (voice, touch) and new software delivery methods (remote provisioning and updates) in a new form factor positioned to allow public safety professionals to keep their focus on the mission.

APX Next unifies much of an officer’s workflow. It builds on the tradition of two-way voice communication and adds the convenience of VIQI (a voice controlled database lookup), automatic over the air software and feature updates, and the ability to automatically use the most efficient communication path whether it’s Radio or LTE. All of this is accomplished without special input or skill from the user thus allowing a greater focus on safety and mission critical tasks. In the long term this will encourage the proper adaptation of technology solutions to specific needs of specialized user groups.

Research insights enabled the solution to move beyond incremental improvements and embrace new interaction methods (voice, touch) and new software delivery methods (remote provisioning and updates) in a form factor positioned to allow users to keep their focus on the mission. APX NEXT unifies the officer’s workflow. It builds on the tradition of two-way voice communication and adds the convenience of VIQI, a voice controlled database lookup (Driver's license, vehicle license, etc) based on AI technology. The APX NEXT device is also designed to receive automatic over the air software and feature updates, and able to automatically select the most efficient communication path whether it’s Radio, WiFi, or LTE. All of this is accomplished without special input or skill from the user thus allowing a greater focus on safety and mission critical tasks. In the long term this will encourage the seamless adaptation of technology solutions to specific needs of specialized user groups.