FEMA selects Sprint Direct Connect for national evacuation programme

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has chosen Sprint to deliver 2,000 Direct Connect service handsets, in a bid to upgrade its fleet of push to talk devices in support of its nationwide mass evacuation programme.

The ruggedised, military-specification, Kyocera Duracore Plus device, which is equipped with the Actsoft Comet Tracker Application, will be used by the agency personnel.

Equipped with an Actsoft GPS tracking and navigation solution, the devices will be used by first responders to send and receive crucial information, in addition to updating FEMA coordinators on engaging help in the event of national emergencies.

With additional features such as roaming and 1xRTT service, the Direct Connect service device will provide three times the coverage offered by the existing Nextel National Network Sprint Direct Connect service.

The company’s portfolio of rugged devices even offer instant call set up times.

Additional support by the company will include integrated project management services to ensure on-demand availability of device to help the agency meet its timeframes and deployment requirements, especially during the Hurricane season.

Since 2008, the company has been assisting FEMA with upgraded and dependable services required during mission critical, mass emergency situations.

The company has plans to stop services from its Nextel network in June 2013.