Wednesday, 20 July 2011 7:09am
SAPOL launch mobile web app
SAPOL goes Mobile
Sergeant Jane Davies spoke to SA Police News about helping to launch the new mobile phone app this morning.
Get the latest news from South Australia Police while on the move. SAPOL has become the first police service in Australia to launch its own mobile web-based app.
The SA Police News application is a web based app, not one you would download from the app store.
It is free and works straight away on your smart phone just by visiting the website. Here's how:
To get the web-based app to work on your smart phone. Visit www.sapolicenews.com.au
The website will recognise that you are using a smart phone (iPhone, Android or Windows Mobile smart phones) and display the website in the new layout.
By then clicking on add bookmark and selecting "Add to Home Screen" your phone will save a shortcut to your Home Screen and you'll be able to quickly access the web-based app.
Members of the public now have a quick and convenient access to a wide range of news, information and updates from the South Australia Police in the palm of their hand.
The new web app went live today and boasts a number of features which allows people to access the latest news and updates directly from the police.
The SA Police News web app features articles on arrests, police operations, serious and fatal road accidents as well as appeals for witnesses to a range of crimes formatted to display on a mobile phone.
By accessing the SA Police News web app you can:
- Read all the latest news articles from the SA Police News website
- Watch the ‘caught on CCTV’ clips and videos from the SA Police News YouTube Channel
- Receive information about natural disasters and emergencies
- Check speed camera locations
- Find out how to report a crime
- Find your local police station
- See the list of SA’s most wanted criminals
- Access SAPOL’s social media sites
- Share news articles on Facebook and Twitter
The move to develop the app was driven by feedback from users of the SA Police News website and social media sites who access the internet via their mobile phones.
Recent research from the Australian Communications and Media Authority shows a 163 per cent increase in the number of people who access the internet via their mobile phone - up from 1.9 million in 2009 compared with 3.1 million in 2010. See: http://bit.ly/lLkuVj
“The new web app will help SAPOL to forge greater links with the community by making information about police easily available,” SAPOL Media Director, Shelaye Boothey said.
“The app has a feedback button and we welcome suggestions from the public on how we can improve our service and provide information that is useful for the community."
SAPOL used freely available, open source tools to develop the app as a mobile display of the SA Police News website. The total cost to develop and implement the app was less that the cost of a full page advertisement in the print edition of metropolitan daily newspaper.
“We see the app being popular with younger people and particularly useful for commuters on public transport who can read all the latest news while in transit who are now more inclined to read news via their mobile phones,” Ms Boothey said.
“We also envisage the mobile app to be a very useful communication tool in the event of a natural disaster or declared emergency.”
To access the free SA Police News web app visit www.sapolicenews.com.au from your iPhone, Android or Windows Mobile smartphone today!
Bookmark or save the links below as a favourite to visit and follow us online at:
