New Version of 1st Touch Mobile Innovates Across Multiple Platforms and Devices
1st Touch (www.1sttouch.com), the UK’s leading supplier of mobile technology to the social housing and local government sectors has launched version 4.5 of its acclaimed mobile workforce software. Whilst, the new version has been developed using Microsoft Windows Embedded Handheld technology it now includes additional support for Android, Apple and BlackBerry smartphones and tablets. This represents a significant investment in R&D and innovation by 1st Touch and is a response to evolving market demand for these platforms, coupled with the growing variety of devices available.
1st Touch applications can bring significant efficiencies and productivity increases to any application where field based workers are equipped with mobile devices to provide services. 1st Touch has already won widespread acclaim in the social housing and local government markets where the software manages, supports and controls all aspects of mobile workers’ activities. The resilient but flexible system enables programming-free, user-customisable mobile device based solutions to be created through its easy to use graphical interface. As such, the system is specifically designed to simplify handheld form design and data capture. Any type of electronic form can be generated without the need for Business Process Mapping. 1st Touch has also developed a range of high quality integrations with most of the leading housing management and back office systems used in these markets.
1st Touch is keen to stress that whichever mobile platform users chose to run version 4.5 with, the system will still operate using the company’s acclaimed offline working model. This negates the problems of unsympathetic geography and terrain that can disrupt signal strength. With 1st Touch, data is automatically sent and received in compact bursts only when a signal is available. Crucially, this means that users are able to log in to the application and start completing forms even where there is no signal.
Commenting on the launch 1st Touch CEO Robert Dent said, “At 1st Touch we believe in providing a consistent environment. So for our existing customers, any forms designed in the 1st Touch Management Studio to date, can be deployed to the wider variety of mobile devices now supported without any need for redesign. In contrast, platform and device choice for new customers is now completely flexible; supporting the original 1st Touch ethos of facilitating maximum customer choice.
“In terms of our overall strategy, 1st Touch firmly believes that Microsoft continues to supply the most comprehensive platform for mobile workers; encompassing extensive support for device management, device data security and integration into corporate line-of-business environments. As such, 1st Touch will continue to actively develop and support the full 1st Touch Mobile Workforce Management suite running on the current Windows Embedded Handheld platform. In the future we will do the same for Windows Embedded Handheld version 8, in line with Microsoft’s overall strategy for the corporate enterprise mobile workforce. However, 1st Touch acknowledges the importance of customer choice and will monitor industry trends and market requirements closely to consistently offer leading edge, best of breed mobile workforce software across a wide variety of platforms and devices.”
Version 4.5 will be available from Q2 2012.
About 1st Touch (www.1sttouch.com)
1st Touch, based in Southampton UK, develops a widely acclaimed range of software systems that have enabled numerous field workforce-based organisations to fully embrace mobile technology and so achieve significant savings, greater productivity and more cost-effective use of resources.
1st Touch Mobile delivers clear and unique benefits that make a real and positive impact. These include:
– Enhanced operative route planning and service delivery– better time usage and reduced fuel costs.
– Significant cost reductions for organisations because airtime is minimised and the system is always available – with or without airtime.
– Lone worker safety.
– Flexibility through simple customer control over forms creation and amendment.
– Smooth integration with multiple leading back office and other enterprise software applications, so that data is entered only once.
1st Touch has a clear focus on the public sector and in particular Local Government; where the software has already been adopted for a wide range of mobile workforce uses.
Ready to use applications for local authority organisations include: Public Buildings, Highways/Street Services, Environmental/Waste Management and Revenues and Benefits, along with Surveying , Planning Control, and Trading Standards. Together with key sectors such social housing, and care delivery, many organisations now benefit from the fast and tangible, best of breed benefits that 1st Touch mobile technology delivers across the enterprise. Users include: Powys County Council, 2010 Rotherham, Wakefield & District Housing, Homeserve, North Ayrshire Council, Philips Collection Services, Amicus Horizon, Peabody and Manchester Northwards
1st Touch is a PartnerSelect Authorised ISV for Motorola, Authorised ISV for Intermec, a certified Gold Partner for Windows Embedded Technology and certified Microsoft Gold ISV Partner .
For further information, please contact:
Cherry Rance
1st Touch
07850 313600
0871 716 3060
or
Leigh Richards
The RIGHT Image PR & Digital Marketing Group
07758 372527
0844 561 7586
leigh.richards@therightimage.co.uk
