NASCIO site puts states' mobile apps in one place
Connecting state and local government leaders
The State Mobile Apps Catalog can help states find ideas for developing their own apps.
Many state governments are developing their own mobile apps for citizen services. And considering that all states provide essentially the same services, being able to share those apps would be handy.
But how to put them all in one place? The federal government has the USA.gov Mobile Apps Gallery to help people find federally-developed apps, but how would someone find what they need in their own or another state?
States such as California have a fairly comprehensive list of apps, but not every state does. Those living close to a state border (which is actually most of us) might not be able to find out what is available in neighboring states.
The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) has answered this call with its new State Mobile Apps Catalog, a clearinghouse for smart-phone and tablet apps developed for the 50 states throughout the country . Visitors can click on a map to find all of the apps for a particular state, or search the entire library for a particular type of app.
Currently, there are 160 apps in the Catalog, which is a small fraction of what is actually in existence, but more are being added all the time — the home page includes a link states can use to update or add apps. The site currently features apps from every state except Arizona, North Dakota and Oregon. Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands also have apps listed, though the District of Columbia and Guam do not.
The catalog covers a range of topics, including public safety, health and wellness, public assistance, employee assistance, state portal, traffic/road conditions and parks and recreation. You can, for example, check out California’s Locator app, Florida’s State Parks Outdoor Guide, or West Virginia’s Suspicious Activity Reporting app.
"This tool offers a convenient way to see what other states are producing in terms of mobile apps, and allowing states to generate ideas for their own state or territory," said Brenda Decker, NASCIO president and Nebraska CIO. "Some states lead the way in mobile app development and can pose as models for those growing their mobile app capabilities."
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