Mobile computing devices which integrate mobile cellular telephony with computers are not only shaping businesses but users will now use them to access to basic services. In the UK, London council services are being mobile-enabled both as a cost-cutting measure as well as interacting with residents without broadband access.
Using a number of platforms such as Mylomo used for the delivery of council services, and dotmobi – a fast and easy mobile website which gives anywhere, anytime access, users will be able to contact their local council via text messaging for services such as Social Services, Health, Education, Transport as well as providing access to local news and job vacancies.
Trey Harvin, CEO of dotMobi said, “Mylomo works on any phone, any network and is not cost-prohibitive for consumers. Local government now has a new way of interacting directly with people that will bring financial benefits as well as new services that are accessible and inclusive.”
This development is particularly encouraging given that as many as 10 million people in the UK have never accessed the internet according to the UK’s Digital Champion Martha Lane. She had recently commented that 80% of government interactions are with the bottom 25% of income earners – who are least likely to have internet access. By keeping them offline, the cost of local government is being made unnecessarily high, she added.
Critics say that the public sector is still using texts in a very generic way with bodies often sending information about a whole plethora issues whereas people want a more personalised service where they receive information that is pertinent to them. They also say that while some people, given the opportunity are happy to self serve, a healthy prop0rtion still prefer to be dealt with face-to-face.
