Voalte One Comes To Android

Surgical Robots: Look Who's Coming To The OR

Voalte will ship an Android version of its healthcare unified communications app on the Motorola Solutions MC40-HC, a WiFi mobile phone for hospitals.

Voalte and Motorola Solutions announced their partnership this week and will demonstrate the joint product next week at the HIMSS14 conference in Orlando. The Voalte One application, which combines voice calls, alarm and alert integration, and secure text messaging, is best known as an app for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.

The MC40-HC, which has no cellular radio, is a WiFi device that functions like a familiar consumer smartphone but is meant for use within the walls of the hospital. Designed specifically for use in healthcare, it includes a 2D barcode scanner that can be used for inventory or to record the dispensing of medicines at the bedside.

Motorola Solutions is the business targeting mobile applications for government and industry that was spun off when Google acquired Motorola's consumer mobile phone division in 2012 (a business now changing hands again, following Google's decision to sell it to Lenovo).

Motorola Solutions helps hospitals implement robust WiFi networks and ruggedized clinical devices that connect to them, said Randy Briley, director of healthcare for Motorola Solutions. "We're obviously not the only device manufacturer in the market with an Android solution, but Voalte selected us because of the stability of the device, the durability of it, and the fact that it's disinfectant-ready."

The MC40HC is a secure enterprise device that can be locked down so only approved apps are installed, but it still offers the ability to run a variety of software. While the Voalte partnership is not exclusive, it will be an attractive one for hospitals aiming to cut down on issuing multiple special purpose devices.

"A lot of doctors carry a pager still, believe it or not," Briley said. "This is a really critical application and feature set for healthcare. For the first time, we're seeing voice, data, and alarms on a single device."

Motorla Solutions will also be showing off its SB1HC pendant communicator, a simpler device running Windows CE and HTML5 apps aimed at hospital support staff and inventory applications.

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