​The source code for the first versions of the Mission Critical Push to Talk (MCPTT) Open Source software development kit (SDK) and sample MCPTT app has been released by the Mission Critical Open Platform (MCOP) project, during the second ETSI MCPTT Plugtests which have been taking place over the course of this week in Texas.

It is available to download from the MCOP repository at https://demo.mcopenplatform.org/

The MCOP SDK and sample MCPTT app facilitate the development of mission critical services by handling most of the complexity of MCPTT application development. The SDK implements all the protocols and signalling specified in 3GPP Release 13/14 MCPTT standards while providing neat APIs for both app developers and user equipment (UE) vendors, the MCOP Unified Open API (MUOAPI), and the Integration API, publicly available at www.mcopenplatform.org/mcop_resources/

The MCOP project is designed to remove the entry barriers of multiple technologies and proprietary platforms. The project team claims that it ensures interoperability, and provides a catalyst for more players to enter the MCPTT market by making the business case more attractive. All MCOP components are fully compliant with 3GPP standards.

Released with the MCOP SDK, the sample MCPTT app serves as a simple proof of concept of what can be achieved in a few lines of code using the MCOP SDK. Both the app and the SDK can be remotely tested in a full 3GPP MCPTT system using the MCOP Testing platform athttps://demo.mcopenplatform.org/

Additionally, a SIM-authentication emulation plugin following the MCOP architecture is provided for those developers that have no access to a MCOP Integration API supporting device.

Fidel Liberal, MCOP project coordinator said “We are really excited to release this version of the MCOP SDK to the community. It will allow us to validate MCOP architecture and check it is proven to be useful for different stakeholders including user equipment vendors, apps and SDK developers, researchers and new mission critical communications practitioners.”

Author: Sam Fenwick