Broadband  |  2023-03-09

BK Technologies Signs Reseller Agreement With WidePoint Corporation for InteropONE PTToC Service

Source: The Critical Communications Review | Gert Jan Wolf editor

Under WidePoint’s single award Cellular Wireless Managed Services (CWMS) IDIQ contract, WidePoint plans to offer BK’s InteropONE services.

BK Technologies Corporation (NYSE American: BKTI) (the “Company” or “BK Technologies”) today announced that it has entered into a reseller agreement with WidePoint Corporation, for the resale of BK’s InteropONE PTToC service to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of State. InteropONE is the only PTToC (Push-To-Talk Over Cellular) service that enables operational interoperability to first responders through on-demand creation of user groups without requiring network pre-provisioning or gateways.

Under WidePoint’s single award Cellular Wireless Managed Services (CWMS) IDIQ contract, WidePoint plans to offer BK’s InteropONE service to all DOS and DHS agencies including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), The United States Coast Guard, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Secret Service and others.

InteropONE facilitates multi-agency incident response and mutual aid in planned or unplanned incidents such as large public events, disaster relief, criminal intelligence, and mass violence, where a lack of communications can slow or hinder the response. Incident command staff can dynamically manage PTToC communications from a smartphone, by “inviting” participants to engage in the incident. Invited participants simply need a smartphone with a data subscription to any carrier network. InteropONE is designed to enable all first responders to communicate regardless of which cellular network they use or PTToC service they subscribe to, or even first responders who do not subscribe to a PTToC service, providing interoperable communications during emergency incidents when no other communications platform meets the need.

John Suzuki, CEO for BK Technologies, stated, “The federal government is a large PTToC service user, as more government personnel carry a smartphone than carry a land mobile radio. InteropONE allows these users to initiate and participate in Push-To-Talk (PTT) group communications on demand. When DHS agents conduct a mission, typically they are joined by other state and local public safety agencies, and InteropONE enables DHS agents to form onsite group communications with any smartphone device on any cellular service worldwide in five minutes or less. With WidePoint’s deep DHS relationships they are an ideal strategic partner for BK Technologies.”


Jin Kang, President and CEO of WidePoint Corporation stated: “Federal contract vehicles, such as WidePoint’s CWMS contract, provide federal agencies a clear pathway to purchasing InteropONE. Our relationship with DHS is quite wide and deep with over 100,000 smartphones under management; InteropONE is currently undergoing field trials with our customers, which have generated favorable initial feedback. We’re pleased to establish a strategic partnership with BK Technologies and believe our ability to offer their PTToC offering will broaden our customer relationships and grow our business.”