There should be an app for that says President Obama.
The White House announced a new initiative Wednesday to make key government services more easily accessible to Americans via their mobile devices.
President Obama issued a directive requiring all major federal agencies to offer two key services to the public over mobile devices like smartphones or tablets within the next year. It’s unclear which services would qualify as “key” under the initiative.
The announcement comes as Americans increasingly do business on the go. There are more than 331 million wireless subscribers in the United States and nearly half of all adults own a smartphone.
“Americans deserve a government that works for them anytime, anywhere, and on any device,” Mr. Obama said in a statement. “By making important services accessible from your phone and sharing government data with entrepreneurs, we are giving hard-working families and businesses tools that will help them succeed.”
The administration also plans to make more government data digitally accessible through an open data program. Officials hope sharing information will spur app developers into action and help promote entrepreneurship.
“The release of government weather and GPS data has already led to countless entrepreneurial innovations, which have made life easier for America’s families while also creating multi-billion-dollar industries and generating jobs,” said U.S. Chief Technology Officer Todd Park.
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The availability of GPS data alone has seen the rise in navigation apps and location-based social media services like Foursquare. A recent study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project found 74-percent of smartphone owners use their phone’s location services.
Open data isn’t just limited to the federal government. The City of Philadelphia has been a major supporter of the open data movement. Mayor Michael Nutter signed an order in April pledging the city’s support accessibility and transparency in data.
