NHS Covid 19 Track & Trace app now available

Put it on both our phones. I was amazed that it was so easy to download. Hopefully never hear from it.

Won’t work on my phone as phone is tooold!

suziewoozie

I have an IPhone 6 so can’t download it.

My husband has an iphone 6 and he has installed all updates available but he has been told it is too old.

Bluetooth always runs my battery down too quickly and coupled with the fact I only switch data on when I need it as I (gasp!) use pay as you go, can’t see it being effective on my phone

I've just gone to download it and I can see the app for Northern Ireland, and another for Scotland but none for ordinary uk, am I doing something wrong?

Downloaded. Hope it doesn’t find something horrid.

MTDancer

I've downloaded it. Does it need to be kept open?

You need to keep your blue tooth on - that’s all

My iPhone is old 5se? and am on pay as you go so does that mean that it won’t work? ( don’t want to waste hours trying if it’s a non starter)

Thanks for all the suggestions. My iPhone won’t update past 12.4.8 - there’s a message saying your software is up to date. I’ve been on line and others are in the same position . I think there’s one IPhone 6 model that it works on. I think this problem occurred with the system piloted on the IoW. From what I’ve read it’s a hardware issue to do with older phones not being able to handle the required measuring distance needed. DH has a newer Samsung so I’d be covered when out with him.

‘Anyone using an older iPhone will receive an error message saying that iOS 13.5 or later is required to run the app. This means any handset before the iPhone 6S – basically any iPhone more than five years old – won’t be able to run the app.’

I’ve read several sources saying exactly this.

GuestCorrectly

Bluetooth always runs my battery down too quickly and coupled with the fact I only switch data on when I need it as I (gasp!) use pay as you go, can’t see it being effective on my phone

The app doesn't use data to identify if you are close to someone so it doesn't matter if you switch the data on or not. Use wi-fi when you get back home and the app should sync all the relevant data.

I'm guessing you may have a very old phone as new Bluetooth versions don't run down the battery anything like the old one, but if you have a phone that can accept the app then you shouldn't see any adverse impact on your battery.

Not everyone will be able to use it - some people (gasp!) don't have mobiles, but the more of us that manage to do it the better. It says that the information is secure and will be deleted - but frankly with CCTV everywhere and credit cards and car number plate recognition 'they' know where we are almost all the time anyway and anything to help get rid of, or at least live with, this pernicious virus.

now I can see it, but there are 3

silverlining48 contrary to other opinions, have downloaded successfully on both our iPhone 5s

spabbygirl

I've just gone to download it and I can see the app for Northern Ireland, and another for Scotland but none for ordinary uk, am I doing something wrong?

The name of the tracing app is NHS Covid-19, not just NHS. Hope this helps!

It would be interesting to know what % of population have a phone that’s too old to download the app and how representative that group is of the wider population. My guess is that it’s a relatively small group but maybe older? For me it’s not a good enough reason to upgrade my phone.

Jax I really don’t understand that. What IOS version is your phone using?

And our experiences are not opinions but facts - we can’t download the app.

This is a really good summary of all the things we've been talking about on this thread. Its from Vodafone, but still all correct.

newscentre.vodafone.co.uk/news/new-government-nhs-covid-19-test-and-trace-app-all-you-need-to-know/

suziewoozie IOS 14

On the can download/can't download question. The government issued a list of approved phones that this will work on. But some that they haven't approved may still work. Seems odd but that's the way it is.

You may wish to speculate on the industry I worked in before I retired

I have an iPhone 6 whose software is up-to-date, but not up-to-date enough for this app. How stupid is that: they should make it downloadable by as many people as possible?

Jax well I have no idea how an Iphone5 can download that IOS version. Some sort of glitch obvs.

ctussaud

I have an iPhone 6 whose software is up-to-date, but not up-to-date enough for this app. How stupid is that: they should make it downloadable by as many people as possible?

Older phones and Operating Systems just don't have the technology to know when you are close enough to another person. Its not like they have decided to make it newer phones only; only newer phones have the technology.

just downloaded it, put in postcode, am in high risk area! only time will tell now how well it performs