Zello Rich Messaging

This skill covers non-voice message types — text, image, location, and alert — which complement PTT voice for situations where voice isn't appropriate or additional context is needed.

Message Types

Type	Method	EnforcementMAPS Use Case
Text	Zello.sendText(contact, text)	Quick status updates, notes to dispatch
Image	Zello.sendImage(contact, uri)	Photo evidence, scene documentation
Location	Zello.sendLocation(contact)	Share GPS position (supplements expo-location)
Alert	Zello.sendAlert(contact, text, level)	Priority notifications, officer-needs-help pings

Sending Messages

// Text
await Zello.sendText(contact, 'Proceeding to Section 4B');

// Image (from expo-image-picker or camera)
await Zello.sendImage(contact, 'file:///path/to/photo.jpg');

// Location (uses device GPS internally)
await Zello.sendLocation(contact);

// Alert (level: 1=low, 2=medium, 3=high)
await Zello.sendAlert(contact, 'Officer requires assistance', 3);

Receiving Messages

Zello.Listener.on('onIncomingTextMessage', (event) => {
  // event.contact, event.text, event.channel
});

Zello.Listener.on('onIncomingImageMessage', (event) => {
  // event.image, event.contact
});

Zello.Listener.on('onIncomingLocationMessage', (event) => {
  // event.latitude, event.longitude, event.contact
  // Integration: plot on react-native-maps alongside patrol zone markers
});

Zello.Listener.on('onIncomingAlertMessage', (event) => {
  // event.contact, event.text, event.level
});

Messaging Hook

// src/features/zello/hooks/useZelloMessaging.ts
import Zello, { ZelloContact } from '@zelloptt/react-native-zello-sdk';

export function useZelloMessaging() {
  const sendText = (contact: ZelloContact, text: string) =>
    Zello.sendText(contact, text);

  const sendImage = (contact: ZelloContact, uri: string) =>
    Zello.sendImage(contact, uri);

  const sendLocation = (contact: ZelloContact) =>
    Zello.sendLocation(contact);

  const sendAlert = (contact: ZelloContact, text: string, level: number) =>
    Zello.sendAlert(contact, text, level);

  return { sendText, sendImage, sendLocation, sendAlert };
}

Integration Opportunities

• Incoming locations can be plotted on the existing react-native-maps patrol zone map alongside officer markers
• Image messages can be saved to the patrol evidence log
• Alert level 3 should trigger prominent UI (full-screen overlay, alarm sound) similar to Code21 dispatch alerts

Detailed Documentation

See docs/dev/zello/07-rich-messaging.md for the full rich messaging guide.