Planned services include:

• Subscription to SMS services:
  • Reminder/cancellation of appointments with the city’s Municipal Tax Office
  • City-Council alerts on citizens’ tax overpayments
  • Status alerts for an appeal against or declaration of a fine
• SMS services now available:
  • Residency certificate applications
  • Checking availability of Bicing stations
  • Consulting polling stations
  • Barcelona Wi-Fi hot spots
• iPhone applications: iBicing
• SMS alerts for status changes in online procedures

What does it do?

These mobile applications extend Barcelona City Council’s range of services and are adapted to the new tools used daily by the public, through which users gain access, from any location, to procedures they may have to carry out or information they may need to receive.

These are new added-value services for city residents, to boost this mobile platform.

Currently available by texting to 7010.

Did you know that..?

• You can use any mobile telephone to carry out administrative procedures and receive information from the City Council

• There are applications available for iPhones and for SMS and WAP services

(Source: http://w3.bcn.cat/egovernment/en/barcelona_productes_mobils.html)

THE federal government has selected Telstra to build a new $15 million national warning system that will send text alerts to the mobile phones of residents threatened by bushfires.

Telstra will deliver the National Emergency Warning System (NEWS) after beating rival Optus in a competitive tender process led by the Victorian government.

In the event of a disaster such as Black Saturday, the system will be used to deliver recorded voice warnings to landlines and text messages to mobiles based on people’s billing addresses.

It’s hoped the system, which will be able to send at least 100,000 messages at a time, will be in use by the end of November in all states except Western Australia, which has its own State Alert system.

“This system will provide emergency service authorities with another way to warn communities in the event of an emergency and in Victoria will complement the actions our government is taking to better protect Victorians from bushfires,” said Victoria’s Police and Emergency Services Minister, Bob Cameron.

“Experts predict this fire season could be potentially worse than the season we’ve just experienced and Victoria led the delivery of the new national-based system because we wanted a system in place for this fire season that could alert communities in the event of a life-threatening emergency.”

Tender documents for the warning system say it could also be used during disease epidemics, sieges, cyclones, terrorist attacks, locust plagues and heat or smog alerts.

“The system will alert communities to emergencies via a recorded voice message on telephones and a text message on mobiles based on the subscribers’ billing address,” Mr Cameron said.

In addition to warning people, the technology could also one day be used to help locate survivors in the aftermath of a fire.

The Victorian government, in partnership with the commonwealth , is exploring the possibility of using the system to deliver warnings to mobile phones based on the physical location of a handset at the time of the emergency.

The possibility of enhancing the system so it can use location-based technology to track citizens in times of emergency has led civil liberties groups to warn of a need for tight privacy guidelines, but the government said it has already moved to assuage such concerns.

Emergency Services Commissioner Bruce Esplin said legislative amendments had been made to impose controls against potential misuse of sensitive personal information.

“States and Territories will use the warning system when appropriate and will determine which geographic area to warn, when to warn and at what time the warning is sent. At no stage will States or Territories have access to the customer name details of the telephone number,” Mr Esplin said.

“This arrangement between the Commonwealth and the States and Territories works to safeguard the public’s personal privacy and their personal safety in potential emergency situations.”

Telstra chief executive David Thodey said the telco was well placed to develop and build the emergency system.

“Telstra is extremely proud that our technology will be used to assist emergency service organisations by delivering warnings to communities through the telephone system,” he said.

Following the Council of Australian Governments decision in April to develop the system, it was agreed that Victoria would lead the procurement and implementation process. Up to $15 million has been allocated to the project.

Source: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/telstra-sms-alerts-could-save-lives/story-e6frgamf-1225779433569

The evaluation set out to (1) determine the effect that the use of the Compliance Service had on TB cure rates and treatment completion rates; (2) identify and describe any related social and economic impacts that may result from the use of the technology in this context; and (3) conduct an assessment of the Compliance Service in terms of whether, and how, best practice principles for project management have been implemented. The evaluation involved three groups of key stakeholders: patients receiving the Service, clinic staff, and TB experts and managers at the City of Cape Town Health Directorate. The project evaluation combined quantitative and qualitative data collection. Information was collected from patient records, background documents and reports, clinic visits, and structured interviews of patients and staff through the use of questionnaires.

Findings

The project management issues are so inherently intertwined with the technology that it is difficult to separate them. Project implementation clearly limited the effectiveness of the Compliance Service, but it is not a reflection on the usefulness of the technology itself. To the contrary, the Service has potential to provide more choice in the care of TB and greater convenience for the patient. However, the problems encountered underline the limitations of the Service and imply there are important conditions for its success.

A number of obstacles to widespread rollout exist. Monitoring for treatment adherence is a problem where patients are not seen daily (as they are with DOTS). An overall lack of ownership of the project at the clinic limits the proactive participation of the staff, and no one on-site takes responsibility for ensuring the Service is implemented effectively. A lack of regular feedback and interaction between the City, On Cue, and the clinic creates a “disconnect” that hinders success in a number of ways. A number of practical implementation issues limited the effectiveness of the pilot. Clinic staff schedules are tight and many staff members feel that they are over-worked. City and clinic bureaucracy limits the add-on functionality that would expand the usefulness of the Compliance Service. Issues of privacy, data protection, and security will affect the widespread use of technology in healthcare in Africa over the long-term.

In our view, the Compliance Service pilot should be re-implemented and re-evaluated, leveraging on the lessons learned in this initial evaluation. The renewed pilot should be conducted according to clear, written procedure for running the Service, and recording data derived from it. The criteria for patient selection must be clearly defined. Patients must be educated such that the healthcare worker is satisfied they will remain adherent if selected for the Compliance Service. And to improve adherence levels, a purposeful effort is required to monitor adherence on the few opportunities healthcare workers have to see patients on the Compliance Service.

Conclusion

The technology works and it is effective. And on face value, it also provides a more cost-effective treatment option, both for the health service and patient. The convenience of TB treatment for the patient is also greatly improved. But, the Compliance Service is only a viable option if adherence levels are at least those of clinic-based DOTS. The evaluation has shown that implementing the Compliance Service involves a trade-off between the gains made on cost and convenience and the losses from having to put extra efforts into getting to know, and monitor self-supervised patients. This technology is not a silver bullet to solve the problem of patient adherence: it is all down to the way in which it is implemented.

source: http://www.bridges.org/publications/11/exec_summary. (29 March, 2005)

YAP SMS INFORMATION SYSTEM

The SMS judicial information system provides an outstanding service for the citizens and lawyers which enables them to receive SMS messages containing legal information such as ongoing cases, dates of court hearings, the last change in the case and suits or dept claims against them. Therefore, they can be instantly informed by SMS about any kind of legal event related to them without going to courts. A cooperation agreement has been signed with the GSM operators in order to establish this system that makes it possible to send SMS to the concerning parties? mobile phones. This system aims to automatically inform all related parties of cases when any legal event, data or announcement (which has to be sent parties) realized by the judicial units such as courts, public prosecutor offices and enforcement offices. Sending a SMS does not replace official notification as it provides information to the parties so that they can take necessary measures in time without delay in order to prevent loss of legal rights.

INFRASTRUCTURE

SMS information system was put into practice in 01.04.2008. National Judicial Informatics System’s ( http://www.uyap.gov.tr/english/index.html) infrastructure is used for this system which is a nationwide central e-justice system providing fast, reliable, and paperless judicial system. Thanks to this system, as soon as judicial authorities make any legal action with their roles in National Judicial Informatics System, related parties are automatically informed by a SMS. The nationwide obligation of using citizen unique ID number in every process is one of the features making it possible to implement this system. This is not a manual working system as it works automatically with specific software that prevents additional costs. This is a server based project set up on Oracle database in Java platform.

Detail about the system at http://www.adalet.gov.tr/english/sms/

A new job ad system is attracting great interest and threatens to do for web based job advertising what the internet did for old fashion print ads. Job Seekers can now register once at www.smsthejob.com.au, choose their job preferences and upload their resume.

They then receive job ads broadcast directly to their mobile phones free of charge.

If one of the sms job ads is of interest then a simple “reply” sms, quoting the job reference sent with the ad, will cause the job seekers resume to be professionally forwarded to the advertiser’s email address as an application for their role.

It is all handled very smoothly by the SMStheJOB system.

Really very painless to set up
>> Job Seekers complete the very simple registration for FREE
>> Jobs meeting the chosen criteria will be sent to the mobile also for FREE.
>> If a job ad is of interest then a simple “reply” sms, quoting the job number sent with the ad, will cause a full application to be sent automatically.

Benefits
* SMStheJOB employs researchers who will find and broadcast roles to suit your preferences.
* You never have to visit a job board again, however if you wish your SMStheJOB web based account comes fully loaded with an entire job search management system that allows you to organise your applications, modify your resume, turn emails & sms broadcasting on or off, determine a maximum number of jobs received and see a copy of the full text ads sent to you .
* You receive job ad alerts to your mobile as they are listed on the site.
* Your application is dispatched to the advertiser when you reply to the job alert immediately.
* Finally you are released from the hours of searching through millions of web based job ads for suitable roles. They come to you allowing you to live a life.
* By registering early you get to the early advantage over others slower to move with the times and still bogged down by having to be near a computer screen.

According to Col. Dr. Chilik Soffer, head of the Population Department at the Home Front Command, the advanced rocket sensors would soon have the ability to calculate the projectile’s exact trajectory.”The rocket sensor will create a virtual ellipse [of the predicted impact zone], and all phones in that area will receive a warning,” he added.

The alert will take four forms: A cellphone vibration, audio alert, light flash, or text message.

Currently, air raid sirens are programmed to identify and alert cities that are at risk of rocket attacks following a hostile launch.

“The more specific the alert, the more ready people will be,” Soffer added.

(Source: http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/2009/11/024876.htm)

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Yerusalem – Israel sejak lama berkonflik dengan banyak negara, terutama negara-negara tetangganya sendiri. Tak jarang konflik militer terjadi, melibatkan serangan senjata berat seperti roket.

Demi meminimalisir risiko kerusakan akibat serangan roket musuh yang bisa terjadi sewaktu-waktu, mereka mengembangkan sistem peringatan berbasis SMS.

Sistem ini bakal mengkalkulasi lokasi presisi di wilayah mana roket lawan akan menghantam Israel. Kemudian, penduduk di area serangan itu akan dikirimi SMS secepatnya agar mereka langsung mengungsi ke tempat yang aman.

“Sensor roket akan membuat pola virtual di mana kira-kira daerah yang akan dihantam dan semua ponsel di area tersebut akan dikirimi peringatan,” tukas Chilik Soffer, offisial senior lembaga Israeli Home Front Command.

Dikutip detikINET dari HuffingtonPosr, Selasa (10/11/2009), kerja sama dengan Kementerian Komunikasi pun sedang diintensifkan untuk menciptakan sistem berbasis SMS ini, agar dapat bekerja efektif.

Serangan roket memang sering melanda negara kaum Yahudi ini dan tak jarang menimbulkan sejumlah korban. Serangan biasanya dilakukan oleh kelompok Hezbollah ataupun para militan dari Palestina yang selama ini merasa dirugikan oleh kebijakan Israel. ( fyk / faw )

Fino Yurio Kristo – detikinet

(Source: http://www.detikinet.com/read/2009/11/10/113049/1238775/398/tangkal-serangan-roket-israel-andalkan-sms)

Dubai: In an attempt to offer more convenient services to the residents, Dubai is moving its government-related services from e-government to m-government.

Since the launch of Dubai e-government seven years ago, all Dubai Government Departments have been increasing e-services. As a result, almost all government-related services have now been made available online.

However, as the world moves towards mobile phone-based applications and services, there has been a growing need for m-commerce and m-services for people on the move, to access information and services.

At the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (Gitex) 2009 government departments are showcasing their newest e- and m-services.

Mobile phones are used by a much wider spectrum of the public than the internet which requires a certain level of computer literacy.

In line with its strategy to facilitate access to its services and to simplify procedures for all residents, Dubai Police, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD) have unveiled new mobile services at Gitex 2009.

SMS notification is one of the services used by all government institutions to inform clients about the status of their applications, records and new procedures and services offered by them.

Dubai Police

As part of a greater programme to simplify procedures, the Dubai Police seek to make mobile phones a delivery channel for its services to clients.

Ahmad Qaied, Computer Programmer and Analyst at Dubai Police, told Gulf News: “Recent statistics show millions of mobile users in the UAE have access to the internet through the mNet service which is supported even while roaming worldwide.

“Dubai residents are able to check or pay their traffic fines and fees by mobile phone through the mPay or Star Service ( *123#).”

However, to use all traffic services, Qaied said users are urged to register by inputting their traffic data accurately on the subscription page.

Also Dubai Police have a programme “Take care about the victim”, an SMS service which sends a regular follow-up notification to the victims about the status of complaints they filed with the police.

Residency

The Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department is providing a new mobile phone-enabled service that lets users download a visa.

It is one of the latest innovations DNRD unveiled during Gitex 2009.

Director of DNRD’s IT Project Management, First Lieutenant Khalid Bin Mediya Al Falasi, said: “This service is very helpful for everyone as they can check visa status, rules for new residency visas and transactions from anywhere using your own mobile.”

The DNRD found that there was no better alternative other than for mobile phones to be a way to ease service delivery, he added.

However, one must first register for this service with the DNRD.

Mobile phones will be used by visitors to enter Dubai.

“Through the M-visa, visitors, residents and guests residing in Dubai and abroad will receive instant notification via e-mail and text messages upon issuance of their entry permits or visas of all types.”

“When their visa is issued, the user will be notified through an e-mail message with an original e-visa document, bearing the DNRD logo and signature of the director,” he said.

The secure PDF file will prevent any tampering with the details of the visitor.

RTA

Now people are able to pay their car parking fees via etisalat or du mobile through the mParking service.

This service includes all parking areas in Bur Dubai and will be expanded to all of the city’s districts by the beginning of 2011.

By sending an SMS to 7275 indicating the car plate number, zone number and duration of parking in hours a driver will receive a confirmation message which includes the virtual ticket details.

Al Bastaki said: “RTA also offers the mPay service for Salik but with a pre-registration for the personal details, car plate number and credit card information.”
(source: http://gulfnews.com/business/technology/m-services-to-simplify-things-for-all-1.517675)

Fifty four (54) national government agencies, out of the three twenty four, have short
messaging (SMS) facility to augment traditional public services as of December 2008. These
agencies take advantage of the fact that many Filipinos own cellular phones and the
country’s reputation as the “SMS Capital of the World.”

Services being offered can be as simple as accessing information; sending complaints,
comments, or recommendations; or as fancy as downloading pictures, graphics, or ring
tones; or as specialized as reporting crimes or paying taxes.

The access numbers used by the agencies can be classified into two categories. One is
the regular eleven-digit number and the other a special number usually shorter than eleven
digits. Of the fifty four agencies, about sixty percent (60%) use the special access numbers.
Using special numbers has the convenience of easily remembering the access numbers
such as the three-digit 211 of the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) or the eight-digit 700-
NEARE of the National Electrification Administration. But sending SMS messages via
special numbers cost 2.50 pesos while via that of ordinary numbers cost only one peso.

Moreover, subscribers of any of the three local mobile service companies can use the
ordinary eleven-digit access numbers, unlike some of the special numbers that are only
accessible to particular subscribers.

For this report update, the Plans Review and Monitoring Office (PRMO) has used
website visits and telephone interviews. Annex A contains the alphabetical list of NGAs with
SMS facility while Annex B contains the list of formats of the NGA’s SMS facility.
Comments, suggestions and clarifications regarding the study may be sent to Ms. Lorna
M. Sales, Director, PRMO or to Ms. Jocelyn V. Tendenilla, Head, ICT Plans Monitoring
Group, PRMO, via email at ictmonitor@ncc.gov.ph.

Source and detail of the departments can be accessed at: http://www.ncc.gov.ph/files/sms_report1208.pdf

The users of the entirely free of charge service will regularly receive, on their mobile phone, text messages with the Ministry’s latest news as well as relevant notifications, reminders, invitations to events and much more.

In order to benefit from the new service, one simply needs to subscribe to it through the website of the Ministry via the dedicated link by entering his/her mobile phone number and, if he/she wishes so, his/her name and surname.

The SMS communication offers the convenience of brief -not more than 160 characters- but synthetic messages providing the citizens with the core of the information in a clear, non-bureaucratic language. The no title messages will furthermore point to the source web page for those users interested in getting into more detail.

(Source: http://thegovmonitor.com/world_news/europe/italian-interior-ministry-unveils-new-free-sms-information-service-3060.html) 2/9/2009

The new Oman Air SMS service gives access to scheduling, fare enquiries and booking status. Nawras customers can also use the service to update their local contact details or to make a request ordering a special meal or a preferred seat for example.

From now, Oman Air customers using a Nawras SIM-card will have an option to receive messages on various products and services offered by the airline.

Mr. Hamad Saif Al Harthy, Senior Manager Reservation and Global Distribution of Oman Air, said:
“We urge customers in general and travel agents in particular to ensure their mobile numbers are provided at the time of booking so that passengers can be reached around the clock and 365 days.”

Its is also worth mentioning that in December 2008, Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman launched its SMS notification services which informed customers about any flight schedule changes or cancelations and this has now been extended to a complete and innovative SMS enquiry service.

On his part, Mohammed Al Najwani, Product Manager at Nawras said that the innovative communications provider was proud to be associated with Tamimah and the national carrier and to be the first to launch this important product. Nawras, which commenced its operations in March 2005, has since pioneered the introduction of many creative new services for its customers such as VoiceSMS, prayer time notification and most recently, the entertaining BawaBaty wap portal.

“Nawras is committed to using the latest technology to bring convenience to customers in a user-friendly way. This service offers great value and a new channel of information to our national carrier, Oman Air,” said Najwani.

Mr. O.K Ravi, General Manager of Tamimah Telecom, the pioneers of the SMS solution provider commented that Oman Air’s SMS Information System is a new service offered to everyone who wants information via their mobile phone about Schedule Enquiry, Seat Availability, Fare enquiry, Flight Information and so on. A complete list of services and how to use them can be obtained by sending “HELP” to 90910. He also commented that Tamimah is committed to contribute its core technology in the development and growth of Oman towards e-government.

Mohammed Al-Harthy, Chairman of Tamimah, said, “We believe in innovation and are happy to partner with Oman Air and Nawras in launching this innovative service which is one of the first of its kind in this region.”

Oman Air’s SMS Service is very easy to use. As an example, a customer who would like to check seat availability on a flight from Muscat to Salalah on the 09 July 2009 would send SA MCT SLL 0907 to the code 90910. To find out the flight cost for the same date, the fare enquiry message would be FE MCT SLL 0907.

The service can even be accessed when travelling outside the Sultanate where international roaming rates would apply.
(Source: http://www.ameinfo.com/201186.html) 21/6/2009