National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have been working on a solution to integrate different technology brands into a single wireless communication system.

The system, about the size of a large filing cabinet, provides a platform to Emergency First Responders to set-up communications faster than a traditional “cell on wheels”.

Dubbed the “Nerdcart”, the system enables over 200 local users of broadband smartphones, Wi-Fi, data terminals and older walkie-talkie radios to all communicate with each other using voice, text, instant messages, video and data.

The system can cover a rural area of 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) and can also be integrated with LTE (4G) mobile phones and Land Mobile Radio (LMR) systems.

NIST - https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2016/08/nist%E2%80%99s-rolling-wireless-net-helps-improve-first-responder-communications