Handheld Crime Fighting

Police officers use dash-mounted laptops in cruisers to access criminal
databases. But what if they’re patrolling on foot, bike or horse? A telecom
giant and a mobile software specialist think they have the answer.

Cingular and BIO-key International have launched a
service that lets officials check vehicle information, stolen vehicle
reports, weapon registrations and outstanding warrants through RIM’s Blackberry device or through Pocket PC-powered PDAs. They also can send text messages and e-mail for inconspicuous communications with dispatchers.

“Public safety has a need for quick and reliable communications to get
access to critical information,” John Kampfe, a Cingular spokesman, told
internetnews.com.

The U.S. Capitol Police, Federal Protective Services and Oklahoma County
Sheriff Office are already using the joint offering, which costs $44.99 per
month per user, plus a software license fee, Kampfe said.

He declined to estimate the total number of officers using the service. A
BIO-key spokeswoman was not immediately available for comment.

The service uses Cingular’s nationwide wireless data network and BIO-Key’s
PocketCOP software. In addition to interoperability with databases and
computer systems, the partners paid close attention to security.

PocketCOP features end-to-end encryption, user ID, password and device
authentication at log-on, plus audit trail via log server to monitor the use of the device. Cingular’s network also includes encryption with authentication protocols.

Cingular, a joint venture between BellSouth and SBC
Communications , is the nation’s largest wireless operator.

The Atlanta-based company said it has several corporate customers in the
public safety sector, including the Missouri Highway Patrol, Honolulu
Police Department and MassPort, an independent authority that manages
Boston’s Logan International Airport and the Port of Boston.

BIO-key, of Wall, N.J., is heavily involved with law enforcement. In
addition to PocketCOP, it sells biometric finger identification technology to authenticate users of wireless and enterprise data services.