BK Technologies Corporation (NYSE American: BKTI) announced that it has developed a new feature for tethering its InteropONE service that enables push-to-talk-over-broadband capabilities for users of the Company’s BKR 5000 and BKR 9000 radios.

The new tethering feature will augment the BKR 5000 and BKR 9000 with patent pending technology that enables users to connect BKR radios with Apple or Android smartphones. With this enhancement, InteropONE push-to-talk calls can be originated or received on the BKR radio using a smartphone’s cellular or WiFi connection. The tethering service harnesses evolving smartphone broadband technology advancements without adding design complexity or cost to BKR radios.

John Suzuki, CEO of BK Technologies, commented, “Since the introduction of Push-To-Talk-over- Cellular (PTToC) services, public safety adoption has been cautious. Industry studies have shown that the smartphone user interface for group voice communications is not ideal for public safety operations and feedback indicates that first responders prefer to use their land mobile radios (LMR) for voice group communications. LMR portable devices such as the BKR 5000 and BKR 9000 incorporate a public safety user interface that has been optimized for emergency voice communication in loud, outdoor environments.

“With the InteropONE tethering capability, now a first responder can use his BKR radio whether he is communicating over a private P25 radio network or over a cellular network. We are always seeking to enhance our InteropONE platform with the goal of improving service for public safety responders in mission critical situations. We believe InteropONE’s tethering capability provides a meaningful step forward in BK’s ability to create seamless connectivity for public safety field personnel.”