The new version of the Blackbox system improves on the first version (which was released in January 2017) as it combines MCData and MCVideo capabilities along with MCPTT features. Nemergent claims that the product provides a turnkey solution for customers who want to start experimenting with the new wave of 3GPP Mission Critical technologies. Additionally, it is designed for third parties to test and evaluate their MCPTT, MCData and MCVideo developments and products.
Leire Eguia, Nemergent Solutions’ product manager said: "Incorporating 3GPP Release 14 features into the Blackbox has proved to be a challenge for the team. It's still an affordable product, backwards compatible with the hardware of the Release 13, now extremely complete and user-friendly."
The latest release of the Nemergent MCPTT Blackbox Tester" includes the implementation of MCData Short Data Service (SDS) and File Distribution (FD) among other features. Nemergent demonstrated its full functionality in the last two ETSI MCPTT Plugtests. “"This new product is timely released to be tested in the upcoming ETSI MCX Plugtests #3 to ensure the standards compliance of all the new included functionalities", added Eguia.
The product can be obtained in two main options. The standalone "Nemergent MCS BlackBox Tester" provides the 3GPP-defined MCS application layer and can be integrated with external MCS-capable networks and clients. Coming next, these features will be also available within the eBox-MCPTT product. The eBox-MCPTT product is commercialised jointly with Expway (a company specialising in LTE Broadcast capabilities) and the companies claim that it provides a full MCPTT system including the QoS and eMBMS LTE capabilities.
"We are seeing a lot of demand for MCVideo applications", said Claude Seyrat, CMO and co-founder of Expway. "Public safety agencies and private security companies are quickly incorporating these functionalities in their arsenal. eBox-MCPTT with MCVideo and MCData capabilities will allow device makers, application developers and network operators to quickly come up to speed and take advantage of this emerging opportunity"
