Public sector services delivered to iPhones in style

Looking Local is pleased to announce the launch of a dedicated iPhone solution giving immediate access to over 120 public sector organisation's information and services to the millions of UK iPhone users. With budgets being squeezed but the need for public sector services to be available across all platforms to enable quick and relevant access - key to delivering service efficiencies - this is a significant innovation.

Keeping up to date with the high end of the technical spectrum is as important as delivering services to those who are less technically savvy, and as public sector outfits have less money to tackle the two ends of this spectrum, Looking Local has worked on its mobile technology to provide a solution for their partners.

Research shows that 7% of all mobile phones in the UK are iPhones and that 88% of UK iPhone owners regularly use the web via their handsets. In addition recent trends show that application downloads now equal that of song downloads, worldwide being in the billions every year. Added to this the recent launch of the iPad as well as iPod touch numbers, means there is a significant iPhone market that the public sector cannot afford to ignore.

Looking Local's dedicated iPhone interface is a move to offer public sector services to all within the community in a fashion that they expect and can interact appropriately with. Few public sector organisations can currently deliver iPhone applications and even fewer now have the budget to investigate their development, so as a public sector service provider owned by Kirklees Council with a history in DiTV and mobile service delivery, Looking Local felt it was a logical next step.

Looking Local on the iPhone - here showing Startford on Avon's housing services

Looking Local began life delivering public sector services on digital interactive TV, still publishing on Sky Virgin and broadband enabled boxes today, Looking Local makes significant inroads into delivering local government and partner services to the digitally unengaged. However for over three years now Looking Local has also been available on WAP phones, designed for quick mobile delivery for people on the go.

Looking Local on the iPhone gives easy and immediate access to local and personal services from over 120 local authorities and housing associations, and offers quick access to traffic and transport news and journey planning from Transport Direct as well as the latest news and services from NHS Choices and job seeking through Jobcentre Plus.

Looking Local icon on the iPhone menu

This interface development work is part of Looking Local's wider mobile technology strategy which will see a dedicated Looking Local iPhone app launch later this year in an attempt to keep our partners at the cutting edge of technology without having to find the budget to fund it individually. Our mobile strategy also includes work on our SMS message service, which aims to link the TV and the mobile side of the service together more closely.