The two technology giants, Apple and Google, have fierce competition in areas such as smartphone operating systems, app stores, media services and voice recognition technology. In particular, Apple's iOS and Google's Android have historically been at odds. Now because of the epidemic, the two operating systems are expected to achieve interoperability for the first time.
Apple CEO Tim Cook tweets to announce partnership
The two sides recently announced that they will jointly create a system to warn people if they have been in contact with someone infected with new coronary pneumonia.
Apple and Google turn enemies into allies
According to reports, the contact tracing system jointly developed by Apple and Google will be introduced into mobile devices such as smartphones, and use existing Bluetooth technology to track the distance between different mobile phones.
Assuming that all users enable this system, once someone tests positive for the new crown pneumonia virus, the mobile phones of other users will search the location data of the past 14 days to determine whether there is a risk of close and long-term contact with the infected person.
If users come into contact with known infected people and can self-isolate after receiving the system prompt, it can effectively curb the spread of the new crown epidemic.
However, the premise is that users must actively choose to use the system. Reports say the program could cover about one-third of the world's population.
How does the system work? To illustrate with an example:
1. Assume that both Xiaohong and Xiaoming have downloaded the APP of the public health department. Met at one point and talked for 10 minutes. At this point, their phones exchange anonymous identifiers. (Identifiers change every 15 minutes.)
2. Xiao Ming was tested positive for COVID-19. He entered the confirmed information into the system through the public health department APP that integrated the API.
3. After obtaining Xiao Ming's consent, the APP will transmit his anonymous identifier for the past 14 days to the system.
4. Xiaohong receives a notification on her phone, "ALERT: You have recently been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Tap for more information."
5. The public health department can provide assistance to those who have been contacted through this APP.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai tweets to announce partnership
Both Apple and Google have specified the progress of the project in their announcements. The first step is that the two companies will release an application programming interface (API) in May, using applications from the public health department to implement Android and Apple iOS Intercommunication between devices. Users can download these official apps in their respective app stores.
The second step is over the next few months, as Apple and Google build functionality into the underlying platform as they work toward a broader Bluetooth-based contact-tracing platform. This is a much more powerful solution than an API, and allows more individuals to participate (if they agree to join), and allows for interaction with the wider application ecosystem and government health departments.
Some experts have questioned the risk that users' mobile phones will be monitored and expose their privacy. In this regard, Apple and Google have emphasized that their systems can protect user privacy. Use of the technology requires user consent and no location data is collected. The technology also doesn't notify users who they've been in contact with or where they've been in contact. The companies said they also cannot see the data, noting that the entire system can be shut down if needed.
Countries encourage competing companies to cooperate in the fight against the "epidemic"
On April 5, the State Administration for Market Regulation issued the "Announcement on Supporting Epidemic Prevention and Control and Anti-monopoly Law Enforcement on Resumption of Work and Production" (hereinafter referred to as the "Announcement"), stating that it will make every effort to create a market environment for fair competition.
According to my country's anti-monopoly law, operators are prohibited from reaching monopoly agreements. However, the above-mentioned announcement clarifies the specific circumstances of the exemption according to law, including cooperation between enterprises to improve technology and research and develop new products in the fields of medicines and vaccines, testing technology, medical equipment, and protective equipment.
Specifically, agreements reached between enterprises are conducive to technological progress, efficiency enhancement, social public interest, and consumer protection; unification of product specifications and standards or specialization in order to improve the quality of prevention and control materials, reduce costs, and improve efficiency. Division of labor; to achieve public interests such as disaster relief; to improve the operating efficiency of small and medium-sized operators and enhance the competitiveness of small and medium-sized operators.
It is worth mentioning that the anti-monopoly law enforcement agencies of the United States and Europe have also recently expressed their views to encourage competing companies to strengthen cooperation during the epidemic. The European Competition Authority (ECN) issued a joint statement on March 23, 2020, during the epidemic, it may trigger companies to cooperate to ensure the supply and fair distribution of rare products. In this case, the ECN will not actively intervene in the interim measures that have been taken.
German government officials have previously called for potential flexibility in the application of competition law, at least in key sectors of the economy such as food and retail. The Norwegian Competition Authority has granted the two airlines a three-month exemption from competition law, allowing them to cooperate in air transport in the most reasonable way of cooperation.
In the United States, antitrust law enforcement agencies have also clarified the circumstances of enterprise cooperation that comply with the provisions of the antitrust law. Gu Zhengping, founding partner of AnJie Law Firm, said that both China and the United States encourage companies to contribute to overcoming the epidemic and safeguarding social public interests and consumer interests through technological cooperation and technology sharing.
Daily economic news is synthesized from Economic Information Daily, Southern Metropolis Daily, etc.
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