Airbus DS Communications and West Collaborate, Streamline Text-to-9-1-1 Adoption for Public Safety Answering Points

TEMECULA, CA--(Marketwired - Apr 27, 2016) - Airbus DS Communications, Inc., an entity of Airbus Defense and Space, and West, a leading provider of technology-enabled communications services, launched a collaboration designed to make it easier for public safety agencies to coordinate, obtain and implement the infrastructure necessary to accept SMS text messages within 9-1-1 call centers.

Prior to this collaboration, most public safety answering points (PSAPs) had to work with multiple, separate entities to request and coordinate the pieces needed for text-to-9-1-1 capabilities. Now -- for customers who want the Airbus DS Communications VESTA^® SMS application and the West TCC (Text Control Center) TXT2-9-1-1^® service -- one call to West or Airbus DS Communications links PSAPs to a tailor-built website where all needed information is gathered and then sent to the appropriate contacts in both companies to put the process in motion. This collaboration simplifies the process for PSAPs and illustrates the willingness of these key industry leaders to jointly serve the needs of public safety.

"Text-to-9-1-1 is too important for us to not to take every step possible to streamline its adoption across the country," said Bob Freinberg, CEO of Airbus DS Communications. "Establishing text-to-9-1-1 and other Next Generation 9-1-1 capabilities can be seen as daunting and with PSAPs facing more demands today than ever before. Airbus DS Communications and West decided that working together to help shoulder this demand is in the best interest of PSAPs and the communities they serve."

In addition to streamlining the process, the collaboration also sidesteps another common issue faced by PSAPs. When coordinated independently, the pieces necessary for text-to-9-1-1 often were obtained one at a time or out of sync, delaying the roll out of text-to-9-1-1 service to the public.

"We are excited to collaborate with Airbus DS Communications to more efficiently deliver text messaging service for citizens in need of 9-1-1 help," said Steve Lowe, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Government Solutions in West's Safety Services Division. "Together, we can provide even more PSAPs the ability to accept and dispatch emergency text messages from those who may not be able to safely make a voice call."

Airbus DS Communications is a leading provider of 9-1-1 call handling, P25 radio and emergency notification solutions. The company's VESTA SMS application, integrated into its VESTA® 9-1-1 solution, enables 9-1-1 call takers to receive, manage and respond to text messages in the same way they handle voice calls today. VESTA 9-1-1 is implemented in over 9,000 PSAP positions today.

West is a leading TCC provider. The company deployed the first solution for text messaging to 9-1-1 in 2009. The company's TXT29-1-1 service is fully compatible with wireless carriers, text service providers and 9-1-1 call handling solutions. This nationwide service ensures, for cellular service providers, that text messages sent to 9-1-1 are routed to the appropriate 9-1-1 PSAPs, based on the phone's location. TXT29-1-1 is available today and fully implemented in hundreds of PSAPs across the United States.

Airbus Defense and Space
Airbus Defense and Space, a division of Airbus Group, is Europe's number one defense and space enterprise and the second largest space business worldwide. Its activities include space, military aircraft and related systems and services. It employs more than 38,000 people and in 2015 generated revenues of over 13 billion Euros.

Airbus DS Communications, Inc., an Airbus Defense and Space Holdings, Inc. company, is a global leader and trusted source for mission-critical communications technologies. The VESTA® product suite provides Next Generation 9-1-1 call processing systems, land mobile radio solutions and emergency notification applications, creating smarter ways to keep all our communities safe.

West Corporation
West Corporation is a global provider of communication and network infrastructure solutions. West helps manage or support essential enterprise communications with services that include unified communications services, safety services, interactive services such as automated notifications, telecom services and specialty agent services.

For over 35 years, West has provided reliable, high-quality, voice and data services. West serves clients in a variety of industries including telecommunications, retail, financial services, public safety, technology and healthcare. West has a global organization with sales and operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Latin America. For more information on West Corporation, please call 1-800-841-9000 or visit www.west.com.