Mayor Menino Launches City's First-Ever iPhone Application for Constituent Requests   City of Boston

7/16/15 11:44 AM

Mayor Menino Launches City's First-Ever iPhone Application for Constituent Requests
 
For Immediate Release
October 22, 2009
Released By:
Mayor's Office

 

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Innovative application uses cutting-edge technology to connect residents with city government like never before
Mayor Thomas M. Menino today launched the City's first-ever innovative iPhone application that uses cutting-edge technology to connect residents directly with
city government like never before. The application, part of the brand new suite of online services called "Citizens Connect," provides constituents with the ability
to send service requests to the Mayor's 24-hour Hotline complete with pictures and location at the push of a button. Constituents then receive a tracking number
in return as a way to keep a tab on their requests.

"The Citizens Connect iPhone application is a great example of new urban mechanics," said Mayor Thomas M. Menino. "We are using the latest technology to
make government even more accessible and more responsive to our constituents. We are excited for residents and visitors to use this application and help us keep
Boston beautiful."
The Citizens Connect iPhone application will be continually updated with modifications and new features. Currently the advanced application allows residents to
send pictures of problems straight from their iPhones as they come across potholes, fallen trees, graffiti, broken street lights or garbage. The application also
shows a map of where each complaint was filed and provides updates so that residents know when a resolution to a problem has been reached.
"The innovative use of this technology is why Boston is one of the country's leaders in providing residents with complete access to the services of City
government," said Bill Oates, Chief Information Officer for the City of Boston. "Today we have Citizens Connect, the DataHub and very soon will have
BetaBoston – providing outside developers the information they need to engineer applications similar to this one. I am proud of our hard work to take
transparency and government to a whole new level."
The Citizens Connect iPhone application can be downloaded for free at the Apple iTunes Store or online at the Citizens Connect homepage:
cityofboston.gov/online_services.
The Citizens Connect webpage provides a complete one-stop shop of City services for residents. Among the various services located at the page, residents can
file a request for service or complaint, pay their parking tickets or real estate taxes, and download voter registration forms.
"This is an extremely exciting time for local developers," said Dave Mitchell, founder of Connected Bits, the local engineering firm that built the application.
"When City government and local developers partner, real innovation can occur. As you can see with the Citizens Connect iPhone application, these projects
create social value for residents and businesses."
While the Citizens Connect application is available only on the iPhone, the City of Boston will soon launch BetaBoston, a program providing the information
needed to make similar applications for any mobile device to the public. BetaBoston will be one of the first programs of its kind in the nation.
The iPhone application was created in collaboration with the City of Boston and Connected Bits, a local engineering firm, for approximately $25,000. The
Citizens Connect name and logo was developed by Emma Kirby, a Boston University student who interned with the City.
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