In public safety, effective operational communication determines the success or failure of a mission. Whether it’s the police, fire department, emergency services, or other safety organizations, fast, reliable, and secure communication during operations is key to coordinated processes, efficient decision-making, and protecting lives.
However, many organizations still use popular consumer messengers such as WhatsApp and quickly reach their limits in terms of data protection, security, and functionality.
This article shows how Teamwire takes operational communication to a new level – with maximum data sovereignty, mission-critical features, and innovative technologies such as augmented reality.
Tobias Stepan in an interview with Critical Communications Today
Our CEO Tobias Stepan spoke to Critical Communications Today about Teamwire, the “secure alternative to WhatsApp” for public safety.
You can watch the full interview here:
We would like to summarize the most important facts for modern operational communication below.
Why consumer messengers fail in emergency communications
In many public safety organizations, shadow IT has become established: private messenger apps that are used for practical reasons.
This practice carries considerable risks:
- Lack of data sovereignty: Data is stored on servers that are often located outside the EU and do not meet the strict requirements of the GDPR.The US CLOUD Act (Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data Act), for example, obliges US companies to grant US authorities access to stored data – even if this data is located on servers outside the US, for example in Germany.
- Lack of security features: No secure containers on end devices, no control over storage locations, no end-to-end encryption of all data, including metadata.
- Inadequate operational support: Important functions for situation management, alerting, or crisis management are completely missing.
These gaps are particularly critical in emergency communications, where information must be exchanged reliably, quickly, and following the highest security standards.
Teamwire: Tailor-made emergency communications for public safety organizations
Teamwire was founded around ten years ago as a secure alternative to WhatsApp – specially developed for public authorities, police, and emergency services. Today, Teamwire is a leading platform for operational emergency communications with the highest data protection and security standards.
Key benefits for emergency services:
- Full control over data: Hosting in certified German data centers or on your own infrastructure.
- Strict data protection compliance: GDPR-compliant, no analysis or storage of metadata.
- Central administration: Users, devices, and security policies can be fully controlled.
Features that make operational communication more efficient
Teamwire offers features that go far beyond traditional messaging services and are tailored explicitly to communication in the field. These include:
- Photo and document editing: Mark and highlight relevant details during searches or missing person searches.
- Advanced map features: Set points of interest, mark areas of operation, plan routes, and share coordinates.
- Crisis features: Alerts and indicators for immediate warnings in emergencies.
- Distribution lists and group chats: Reach entire teams or departments with a single click.
Innovation in operational communication: augmented reality for situation overviews
One highlight of Teamwire is AR-supported operational communication. Instead of mentally transferring map information to the real environment, emergency personnel can see the position of their colleagues directly in their field of vision – whether in a football stadium, on the open road or during building operations.
Augmented reality offers many advantages:
Complex operational situations can be coordinated precisely, and emergency personnel can quickly orient themselves visually on site. This reduces the error rate in determining locations and leads to greater operational success.
Find out more in our blog article “Augmented reality – more than just a gimmick: How AR is revolutionizing operational communication.”
Conclusion: Operational communication that gives you a competitive edge
Teamwire bridges the gap between simple but insecure messengers and the high demands of modern operational communication.
With features such as augmented reality situation maps, advanced map functions, alert functions, GDPR-compliant data storage, and clear privacy policies, communication during operations becomes a strategic advantage – especially when every second counts.
Curious?
Try Teamwire free for 14 days or get detailed insights in a personalized demo!
Discover our success stories for more practical examples of how Teamwire is used. The use case of the Bavarian Police is likely to be of particular interest to you and your colleagues.
