Integration Will Let Dispatchers Livestream Body Cam Video

Axon, the largest provider of body-worn cameras for law enforcement in the U.S., is integrating with the emergency data startup RapidSOS.

The integration goes both ways, meaning that:

• Emergency responders will be able to use Axon software to access RapidSOS data such as the location of the 911 caller, and
• Dispatchers will be able to use RapidSOS to access Axon data — most notably, video streaming from Axon devices such as body cams and dash cams

“Many agencies already rely on both Axon and RapidSOS to manage emergency response,” Axon Chief Product Officer and Executive VP of Software Jeff Kunins said in a press release. “By enabling our solutions to work seamlessly together, we empower first responders with a single source for mission critical information as well as the ability to deliver industry-leading tools for agencies to securely and more efficiently manage resources and thereby respond faster than ever.”

The partnership is right in the wheelhouse for RapidSOS, whose business model involves integrating with other vendors to provide data from their devices and software to dispatchers and emergency responders. The idea is that by doing so, emergency responders can find the people they’re trying to help faster and be more informed about the situation when they arrive.

The ability to access livestreamed video is, however, somewhat new. Traditionally, law enforcement has had to upload video from their cameras by docking it to a physical piece of hardware. Axon’s new software launched in August, called Axon Respond, opens up the cameras for livestreaming.

RapidSOS works with 4,800 emergency communications centers across the world, while Axon is the provider of body cameras to most of the largest police departments in the U.S.