Apple, Google Release First Version of COVID-19 Exposure Notification API
Apple and Google are today releasing the first version of their COVID-19 contact tracing system. The companies are releasing a beta version of the Exposure Notification API, which enables the contact tracing system.
The new APIs are not available to all developers, as they are only limited to public health organizations. Apple and Google are only letting apps from public health authorities use the new Exposure Notification API, as the companies previously announced.
Apple is releasing iOS 13.5 developer beta 3 along with a new beta release of Xcode 11.5 that includes the new exposure notification API. This will allow developers of apps from public health authorities to start using the new APIs. Google is also releasing a new beta of Google Play services with the first version of its exposure notification API.
— Guilherme Rambo (@_inside) April 29, 2020
Both the companies are also planning on releasing sample code to help developers understand how the new system works. The purpose of releasing the beta early on is to gather feedback from developers before the release in mid-May. The companies have already received feedback from public health authorities and industry experts after first announcing the new system, and have already made some improvements.