Raytheon has developed a mobile application for PCs, tablets and smartphones that allows first responders to interact and communicate without the use of land mobile radios (LMRs). As a part of Raytheon's Interoperability Communications Suite, this new mobile application allows authorized personnel to use tablets and smartphones as "virtual radios."

Raytheon will demonstrate this new application at the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) annual conference and exposition from Aug. 20 - 22 in Minneapolis.

"This versatile mobile application allows first responders to communicate over the data network when they are out of LMR coverage range or when a redundant form of voice communication is needed," said TJ Kennedy, director of Public Safety and Security for Raytheon's Network Centric Systems business.

"Responding officers can now establish direct voice communications with officials and experts who aren't on the public safety radio system, thereby providing valuable, real-time collaboration."

Raytheon's application also allows a commander to monitor and communicate, through his PC or smartphone, with a responding unit, even when the commander is out of the LMR coverage area.

For officers within coverage range, it lets less important side conversations occur over the data network, reducing non-essential radio traffic and freeing LMR channels needed for critical communications.

Raytheon's Interoperability Communications Suite expands the company's industry-leading product offering, providing interoperability between LMR radios, landline and VoIP phones, P25 systems via ISSI, and 4G/LTE. Media control server operators control and dispatch to the system via a touch-screen-capable, Web-based user interface. Users can initiate conversations between one another, or request that the operator tie them into radio links.