Press Release

Oakland County Launches Mobile Services Pilot for Wireless Internet Surfers

Pontiac, Michigan, November 1, 2006 -- Oakland County's award-winning web site www.oakgov.com is now accessible to even the most on-the-go Internet users. Selected information from the County's 15,000+ web pages can now be viewed with small-screen web browsers such as those used in wireless Internet enabled phones and PDAs.

Users of small-screen web browsers who visit Oakland County's web site www.oakgov.com will be automatically directed to the Mobile Services pilot menu. The pilot currently offers a selection of the most commonly requested Oakland County information, including County government telephone numbers, access to recent County news, and the locations of County golf courses. Citizens will also be able to use Mobile Services to get emergency alert information when necessary.

Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson said, "This exciting new service goes hand-in-hand with Oakland County's leading eGovernment programs. By continuing to break down barriers between citizens and government, Oakland County remains at the forefront of effective government service."

"We're proud to open yet another door to Oakland County eGovernment. If there's any way we can make it easier for citizens to get the information they need, we're going to do that," said Oakland County Chief Information Officer and Deputy County Executive Phil Bertolini.

More information about the Mobile Services pilot is online for traditional browsers at http://www.oakgov.com/mobile.  The County plans to expand its Mobile Services offerings after evaluation of the usage of the pilot site.

Oakland County's Mobile Services pilot was developed through a partnership with students from Michigan State University's Eli Broad College of Business. Students worked alongside County eGovernment staff to develop Mobile Services as part of their coursework in Information Technology Management.

Oakland County is the fourth most digitally advanced county in America among counties with populations of 500,000 or more, according to the Center for Digital Government and the National Association of Counties.  Oakland County's eGovernment initiative (http://www.oakgov.com/egov) uses state-of-the-art technology to bring government together with citizens, businesses and educational communities.

Find out more about Oakland County online resources at http://www.oakgov.com. For media inquiries only, please contact Bob Dustman, Oakland County Media and Communications Officer, at 248-858-1048.

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