The City of Bloomington releases Open311 issue reporting app for Android

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 22, 2013

For more information, please contact:
Rick Dietz, Director, City of Bloomington Department of Information and Technology Services, 349.3485, dietzr@bloomington.in.gov

The City of Bloomington releases Open311 issue reporting app for Android

Bloomington, Ind. - Following a public testing period, the City of Bloomington is pleased to announce the general availability of its Bloomington.app and GeoReporter Open311 issue reporting tools for Google Android devices. The Android apps join the City's current suite of Apple iOS apps.

"Reporting issues directly to the City helps us provide more efficient and timely service," said Mayor Mark Kruzan. "This technology helps us do our jobs and provides yet another avenue for valuable community input."

The Android version of the app was developed with the help of an intern funded by the Google Summer of Code 2012 program. Since then, the Android app has undergone additional development, culminating in beta testing and open release.

The City's mobile apps work with Bloomington's open source Open311 issue tracking server called uReport. Through uReport citizens can notify the City of potholes, graffiti, malfunctioning street lights and other community issues via their mobile devices or on the web at [http://bloomington.in.gov/ureport]. Bloomington.app and GeoReporter are available in [Google Play|https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=City+of+Bloomington] and the [Apple App Store|https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/city-of-bloomington/id486994124].

Residents without smart phones can report issues directly through the City's website at [http://bloomington.in.gov/ureport] or call the City at 349.3400.

The Bloomington.app is customized for the City of Bloomington. The GeoReporter app is an open source version of software that supports issue reporting in Bloomington, Boston, Chicago and Bonn, Germany. More cities will be online soon.

"We are proud to be part of the community of cities innovating in open source and community source development," the City's IT Director Rick Dietz said. "There is a movement toward technology collaboration among cities around the world, and we are part of that right here in Bloomington."

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