A TEAM of Middlesbrough software experts have just finished work on two ground-breaking phone apps.
One is believed to be the world’s first multi-platform application for remote control of home security, and the other allows users to control their finances.
Last year, Middlesbrough based BroadBand Security Centre approached Sapere Software to develop them a smartphone app specifically for the iPhone. It was to be the first of it kind to allow its users to monitor and control their home security systems through their phone. The user can view camera footage from their home, move cameras, and even check on pets and home workers.
After originally building the home app for just the iPhone, Sapere were then asked to develop a further four to cover the market for Android, Windows Mobile 7, Blackberry and Symbian.
BBSC director Martin West said the key to the operation was having the app at the front end of a lengthy and complicated development process.
“We did the work on this for an Israeli company who had done all the background technology work but needed someone to do the app work.
“Sapere are a very efficient firm and it all worked out very well between us.
“The way things are going, our customers will be doing everything on a mobile before long. Young people know all about the mobile technology, so I use the phrase ‘old hat, new app’ to sum up our way of finding new ways to present whatever people need.”
Paul Drake, operations director at Sapere Software, says: “We were really pleased to be asked to build the initial smartphone app for the iPhone but then to be asked to develop this on a further four platforms is testament to our abilities. As the world becomes more and more reliant on Smartphone technologies we as a business are well placed to build the business tools required to make the technology work for businesses.”
Sapere have also just designed the world’s first dedicated financial app for the iPad.
Seeing a gap in the app market and wanting to increase brand awareness, Stockton-based Mercury Wealth Management approached Sapere. Mercury wanted an iPad and iPhone app that would allow their current and potential new customers to manage and plan their financial affairs. Following several months of development and fine tuning by Sapere they have delivered a suite of financial calculators exclusively for the iPad and iPhone.
Nigel Bourke, MD of Mercury, said: “We wanted to offer clients greater control over their financial affairs and now one of the calculators allow the user to work out how much they would need to save each month in order to be come a millionaire, whereas one of the other calculators shows a retired person how long their money will last them”
Paul Drake added: “As we specialise in building mobile software applications for use in business as opposed to the usual game applications we relished the challenge to build what is a UK first for the iPad. The use of mobile and tablet based systems to deliver business tools and applications is most definitely on the increase. End users of these system are looking for easier and more convenient ways to access the data they require and this type of platform and application certainly fits that requirement.
We can really see this type of medium becoming the norm where PCs and laptops become solely a specialist business tool.”
