With an enticing, but cryptic, press release today, Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford invited the media to his special announcement outside of the House of Represenatives chambers on Thursday entitled, "Democracy on the Go."
A public records search gave us some accidental insight into the event: the launch of the Florida House's new mobile app. The first of its kind for Florida government, the MyFloridaHouseApp will offer everything you can find on the House's current Internet site on a mobile app for I-Phones, I-Pads, Androids, etc.
According to the contract with Orlando-based Echo Interaction, the app will not only stream live video of committee meetings and floor sessions, it will offer details on bills, votes, and legislators.
The app was developed by Echo Interaction for $133,000. The contract was competively bid.
According to the contract, the product has been beta tested for the last month and will be ready for launch on the first week of session. The company will continue to provide maintenance and support through October 2013. Download Tablet Vendor Overall Selection Summary (1); Download ITN for Tablet Application(s) iOS and Android seperate Version 8132012 (1)
So basically it's an internet browser with Flash, available for $2.99 in the App Store already. No need for taxpayers to cough up $133,000...
It's called SkyFire, by the way, and it can do everything the MyFloridaHouseApp does. And probably more.
Posted by: Melissa Sellers | February 27, 2013 at 06:49 PM
Reporter's note: The writer in the above post is not the Melissa Sellers from the governor's office.
Posted by: Mary Ellen Klas | February 27, 2013 at 11:12 PM