Vocera Edge Communications, a cloud-based solution for smartphones, enhances care team mobility and simplifies the work at the point of care through effective, reliable, clinical workflows and communication. With Vocera Edge, clinicians can document to the EHR while receiving filtered, prioritized alarm and task notifications. Physicians can easily locate and communicate with the nurse and team members supporting their patients, saving time with each connection

This Vocera Edge Communications for Android release is compatible with Vocera Edge System 4.12.x, 4.14.x, and 4.15.x.

Use this document in conjunction with the following Release Notes:

• Vocera Edge System Release Notes
• Vocera Engage Release Notes
• Vocera Voice Release Notes

The following devices have been certified to be compatible with Vocera Edge Communications 4.15:

• Google Pixel 5, 6, 7, 8
• Samsung Galaxy Note 20
• Samsung Galaxy S10/S10+, S20, S21, S22, S23, S24

All these devices can be used for BYOD. However, Vocera recommends devices newer than the Samsung Galaxy S8. Devices made after this model tend to have improved wireless connectivity, such as 802.11 a/b/g/n + ax 2x2 MIMO. These newer devices are also more water and dust resistant with IP Ratings of IP67/IP67 or better.

Certain older or lower hardware capability phones may have connectivity issues in hospital environments. If a caregiver experiences these types of issues, have them try a newer or more hardware capable device.

The following Android operating systems are certified:

• Android 14
• Android 13

The following devices are being evaluated for shared device use:

• Google Pixel 6a
• Spectralink Versity
• Zebra TC52ax

The following list displays new features in this version of Vocera Edge Communications - Android.

• Unified Messaging: Integration with Vocera Voice 5.10.4

  • Description: Vocera Edge users can initiate and receive text messages between the Vocera Edge app, Vocera Edge Web Messenger, and a Vocera Badge (SmartBadge, MiniBadge, and B3000N). Unified messaging supports:

    • One-on-one messages with badge users

    • Group messages with Vocera Voice groups

      NOTE: When sending a message to an Edge or Voice group, the subject line is required. Users cannot add or remove users in a group after the message is sent.

    • Patient-tagged conversations

      NOTE: You can tag one patient in a conversation. Adding a new patient opens a new conversation. When tagging a patient in a message, the subject line is required.

    • Image and audio attachments

      NOTE: If you are sending the message to the Vocera Voice server, image attachments are not displayed on the badges. The badge receives a notification only. The image is still visible when you view the message in the app or Web Messenger web client.

    • Emojis

      NOTE: If you are sending messages to the Vocera Voice server, emojis are removed from the messages before they are sent to a Badge. The emoji is still visible when you view the message in the app or Web Messenger web client.

    • Acknowledge requests

    • Read receipts

    • Quick texts

    • Simultaneous Login (see Simultaneous Login details below for more information.)

  • Configuration and Maintenance: N/A

• Simultaneous Login between Vocera Edge and Vocera Badge: Integration with Vocera Voice 5.10.4

  • Description: Vocera Edge users can log into the Vocera Edge mobile app (iOS and Android) and one Vocera Badge (SmartBadge, MiniBadge, and B3000N) at the same time and send and receive text messages and alerts on both the app and device. Simultaneous login allows one Badge connection only. If the user logs in to a second Badge, then they are logged out of the first one.

    This release contains the following updates from the previous Simultaneous Login release (available in Vocera Edge 4.14.1):

    • Messaging: Users can send and receive text messages and alerts on both the Vocera Edge Mobile app and the Vocera Badge.

      The Vocera Badge serves as the primary voice device and performs all voice service activities: calls, voicemail, playing alerts, and genie sessions. The Vocera Edge mobile app serves as the secondary device and performs data service activities: messaging and receiving call logs.

    • Edge Mobile Android app support: This release adds support for Simultaneous Login for calls and messaging on the Edge Mobile Android app. The previous release of Simultaneous Login was available on the Edge Mobile 4.14.1 iOS app only and was limited to one-on-one calls.

  • Configuration and Maintenance: To use this feature, the Vocera Edge 4.15 environment must be connected to a Vocera Voice 5.10.4 Server. No further configuration is needed. Simultaneous login is active and working upon installation of the Vocera Edge 4.15 app and Vocera Voice 5.10.4 Server. When you log in to a badge and the Vocera Edge app, the app display updates the following:

    • The Phone tab at the bottom of the screen displays a badge icon instead of the phone icon.
    • The Phone > Call tab displays a Logout Badge button. Tap this button to log out of the badge. The user stays logged in to the Vocera Edge app and the badge-related details clear from the app (for example, the Calls tab icon returns to a phone icon and the Logout Badge button does not display).

• Unified Alerting: Integration with Vocera Voice 5.10.4 and Vocera Engage 7.2.1

  • Description: Vocera Edge users can receive alerts on the Vocera Edge app, Vocera Edge Web Messenger, and a Vocera Badge (SmartBadge, MiniBadge, and B3000N).

  • Configuration and Maintenance: Alert configuration is completed using Engage Rules 1.5 and later. To use this feature, the Vocera Edge 4.15 Server must be connected to a Vocera Voice 5.10.4 Server and a Vocera Engage 7.2.1 Server. The Engage Server must have a configured Outgoing WCTP 2.8.0.1 adapter. Vocera Engage sends messages to the Vocera Edge 4.15 Server using the Outgoing WCTP Adapter, then Vocera Edge Server delivers the message to the Vocera Edge Mobile app and the Vocera Badge.

    NOTE: Starting with this release, the Outgoing VMI Adapter is no longer required for sending alerts from Engage to Voice Server. Alerts between Engage, Edge, and Voice are sent through the Outgoing WCTP adapter. If you configured the Outgoing VMI Adapter in a previous version of Engage to send alerts to Voice, then you can continue to use this configuration if you are only using Engage and Voice. If you are using Engage, Edge, and Voice together, then configure and use the Outgoing WCTP Adapter to send alerts from Engage to Edge, then Edge to Voice.

• Call Forwarding: Integration with Vocera Voice 5.10.4

  • Description: Vocera Edge supports the configuration of call forwarding options from Vocera Voice Server 5.10.4. In Enterprise Manager, you can enable call forwarding. Permitted users can set call forwarding options in the Edge Mobile for Android app.
  • Configuration and Maintenance:
    • To enable the Call Forwarding feature, go to Enterprise Manager > Settings > Security > Advanced Settings, and select Call Forwarding Enabled.
    • To enable Call Forwarding for a caregiver after enabling the feature, go to Enterprise Manager > Configuration > Caregivers. Edit the caregiver profile, open the User Account tab, select the Vocera Voice Server, then edit the call forwarding information in the Vocera Edge Extensions table.

• Call History: Integration with Vocera Voice 5.10.4

  • Description: Vocera Edge displays the call history for all calls from Vocera Voice Server 5.10.4, including all calls to and from badges: one on one and group calls, broadcast calls, urgent broadcast calls, Instant Conferences, Panic Broadcasts, and Forwarded Calls.
  • Configuration and Maintenance: N/A. Call history is displayed on the Vocera Edge Mobile apps.

• Broadcast Calling: Integration with Vocera Voice 5.10.4

  • Description: Vocera Edge supports the configuration of broadcast calling from Vocera Edge Mobile clients to Vocera badges connected to a Vocera Voice Server 5.10.4.
  • Configuration and Maintenance:

    To enable broadcast calling, go to Enterprise Manager > Settings > Security > Advanced Settings, and select Broadcast Calling Enabled.

    To enable new broadcast calling permissions on a clinical profile, go to Enterprise Manager > Configuration > Clinical Profiles. Edit the clinical profile, select the Permissions tab, then update the access for Initiate Voice Broadcast" and Initiate Urgent Voice Broadcast.

• Instant Conference: Integration with Vocera Voice 5.10.4

  • Description: Vocera Edge supports the configuration of instant conference from Vocera Edge Mobile clients to Vocera badges.
  • Configuration and Maintenance:

    To enable instant conference, go to Enterprise Manager > Settings > Security > Advanced Settings, and select Instant Conference Enabled.

    To enable new instant conference permissions on a clinical profile, go to Enterprise Manager > Configuration > Clinical Profiles. Edit the clinical profile, select the Permissions tab, then update the access for Initiate Instant Conference.

• Receiving Panic Calls: Integration with Vocera Voice 5.10.4

  • Description: Vocera Edge users can receive panic calls from Vocera badge users in the Android app. Incoming panic calls reflect the location details of the initiator's device. The app automatically answers panic calls, even when the user's presence is set to Busy or Do Not Disturb.

  • Configuration and Maintenance: To receive a panic call, the user must be a member of the group that receives the call. This group is configured in Vocera Voice Server.

• Swap and Merge Active and On-Hold Calls

  • Description: Vocera Edge users can switch between two calls when the user has one active call and one on hold. The user can also merge the two calls together to create a conference call.

  • Configuration and Maintenance:

    • To swap between the active and on hold calls, tap the Swap button on the active call screen in the app,
    • To merge the active and on hold calls, tap the Conference button on the active call screen in the app,

• Transferring Active Calls

  • Description: Vocera Edge Communications users can transfer an ongoing call to another user who is responsible for the patient care.

  • Configuration and Maintenance: To transfer an active call, tap the Transfer button, then select the contact from the Contact Directory.

• Screens Display Caregiver Middle Name

  • Description: The following screens in the Edge Mobile Android app now display the caregiver's middle name if it has been added the caregiver's profile:

    • Profile screen
    • Edit Contact screen
    • Security PIN screen
    • Send Page screens
    • Favorites Contact screen

  • Configuration and Maintenance: N/A

• Call Forwarding to an Extension in BYOD Mode

  • Description: For caregivers using a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Android phone, Vocera Edge supports call forwarding to a hospital voice extension or phone number.
  • Configuration and Maintenance: Make sure the app is set to BYOD mode (Prefer Cellular Calling is ON and In-hospital Shared Device is OFF). On the device, go to the Phone tab, select the call forwarding icon, toggle Call Forward to ON, and then select the extension or phone number.

    Enable Call Forwarding in Enterprise Manager:

    • To enable the Call Forwarding feature, go to Enterprise Manager > Settings > Security > Advanced Settings, and select Call Forwarding Enabled.
    • To enable Call Forwarding for a caregiver after enabling the feature, go to Enterprise Manager > Configuration > Caregivers. Edit the caregiver profile, open the Permissions tab, and enable the Enable Call Forwarding permission.

• New Permission for Location Access

  • Description: The app now asks for location permissions when you open the app for the first time. The app collects location data to determine the nearest affiliated Wi-Fi access point.
  • Configuration and Maintenance: The device prompts the user to allow specific permissions when the app is opened for the first time.
    • On the pop-up location request in the app: When the new Allow Vocera Edge to access this device's location? permission displays, select Precise location, then select While using the app.
    • On the Android device permissions page: Select Allow all the time. If you select a different option, you will receive the prompt when you open the app again. Make sure the Use precise location toggle is enabled.

The following list includes items fixed or improved in this version of Vocera Edge Communications - Android.

There are no fixed issues in this release.

This section provides information about known product defects and limitations in Vocera Edge Communications - Android 4.15.0.

• EDGEM-5830 When a user on Vocera Edge for Android 4.15.0 sends a patient-tagged message to a user on Vocera Edge for Android 4.14.x, the 4.14.x app creates a new one-on-one conversation and the message is sent to the new conversation, but the app does not navigate to the new conversation and it appears like the message has not been sent.

  Version Introduced: Vocera Edge for Android 4.15.0

  Workaround: This issue is observed only when sending messages between the 4.15 and 4.14 apps. The recommended workaround is to upgrade all users to the Vocera Edge for Android 4.15.0 app.

• EDGEM-5255 After a user uninstalls the app, then installs it again, the phone may save the server and login details so the user is directed to the app's PIN screen with the user already logged in instead of the Domain Address screen.

  Version Introduced: Vocera Edge for Android 4.14.0

  Workaround: Clear app data before uninstalling the app.