NHS Covid 19 Track & Trace app now available

Conni no it won’t. I actually think this is another communication failure from the Gov. When MH was doing his studio tour this morning he should have upfronted the issue and explained simply why it does not work on older phones. Instead it was dragged out of him and some people are irritated because it was another example of overpromising and underdelivering. I can imagine some people feeling they don’t matter as the app is in fact unavailable to them.

Will it download to my iPad?

Have the app.......my area is medium risk

thanks notnecessarilywiser, I have it now

suziewoozie

Alegrias I don’t have the technical language but my understanding is that this is all aboutBluetooth which is both hardware and software and the former is built into the phone and can’t be upgraded if the phone doesn’t have it already.

That's how I see it too suziewoozie

Here's the technical language from the government website

To install and use the NHS COVID-19 app, your phone will need Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) 4 or above (that's the hardware bit) and Operating System software Android Marshmallow, or iOS 13.5 or above (this is the software bit). This is because the app needs the Exposure Notification framework developed by Apple and Google, which is only available in these versions.

I don't have a mobile phone. I can't see the things on them with my deteriorating eyesight. I have a perfectly good landline if anyone needs me.

Well I reckon it will be a good percentage of the population that can't down the app. Just doing a quick think around the people I know at least half won't be able to do it as the phone is to old. Still if it works for some it will help.

Alegrias I don’t have the technical language but my understanding is that this is all aboutBluetooth which is both hardware and software and the former is built into the phone and can’t be upgraded if the phone doesn’t have it already.

5SE not S

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

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.

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

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?

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

suziewoozie IOS 14

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/

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

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

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.

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!

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

now I can see it, but there are 3

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.

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.

‘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.