Regional Virginia public safety group selects Alcatel-Lucent OmniTouch My Teamwork to transform emergency operations and planning

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) today announced that the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC) in Virginia has successfully deployed the Alcatel-Lucent OmniTouch My Teamwork Land Mobile Radio Conferencing and Collaboration (LMRCC) application at emergency operations centers (EOC) across 16 jurisdictions.

HRPDC is located on one of the world’s largest natural harbors, is subject to hurricanes, home to military installations, and a nuclear power facility - all those demanding a secure, integrated communications ecosystem. Deployment of OmniTouch My Teamwork LMRCC will transform Hampton Roads’ response and management practices, with productivity gains that will directly benefit the public. From scenario planning, where district-wide multimedia briefings can be scheduled using audio, data, and video conferencing to real-time emergency response collaboration during an actual event or to improve communication during the often overlooked disaster recovery phase - the OmniTouch My Teamwork LMRCC bridges land mobile radio users across all sectors of the response team.

“With the Alcatel-Lucent solution, we can best coordinate our regional resources and response teams,” said Doug Onhaizer, Communications Technology administrator for the City of VA Beach. “We are now able to hold more effective, timely briefings and request the appropriate resource assistance.”

With the OmniTouch My Teamwork LMRCC, HRPDC is able to overcome the compatibility issues typically faced by public safety organizations. Agencies such as the state police, fire departments and emergency response managers can now communicate via mobile, IP, PSTN telephones or land mobile radios and even share data across this fully integrated communications solution.

Future plans for HRPDC include expanding the solution to include other municipalities along with state and federal agencies. With data sharing capabilities across agencies, HRPDC can identify trends taking shape and report them appropriately, a critical feature for managing large concerns such as terrorist threats.

OmniTouch My Teamwork provides XML and SIP APIs to facilitate successful integration with industry leaders such as Polycom and Raytheon. At HRPDC, OmniTouch My Teamwork LMRCC integrates with the Polycom MGC-50 multipoint control unit to deliver video conferencing and with the Raytheon ACU1000, for simultaneously cross-connecting the different radio networks within each jurisdiction.

“We believe strongly that the OmniTouch My Teamwork LMRCC application can radically transform the way emergency response groups operate and function in today’s unstable global environment whether it is a natural or manmade event,” said Jamie Kistler, vice president of Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise Applications and Program Management activities. “The Hampton Roads solution is a prime example of our dedication in providing complete solutions that address real user problems in both enterprise and government institutions. We are proud of our successful partnerships with Polycom and Raytheon, both leaders in their industries, and we look forward to continued success in delivering cutting edge solutions with our partners.”