Telco Together Launches Apps4Change Education Program
Announcement posted by Telco Together Foundation 17 Oct 2013
Apps4Change aims to help Australian charities better understand mobile technologies through an online learning centre, series of free webinars & access to an AppsWiz cost-effective app solution.
Telco Together today launched Apps4Change - an online education program - dedicated to helping Australian charities better understand the adoption of mobile technologies to support common not-for-profit objectives, such as fundraising, service delivery and cause awareness.
More Australians now access the internet from mobile devices than from PCs and laptops, and a recent Magna Global study found 57% of website visitors expect their experience to be mobile friendly.[1] It is now more important than ever for charities to understand the impact of emerging mobile technologies on their operations.
“Unlocking the power of mobile technology has the capacity to help charities be more effective, especially in terms of engaging new and younger donor segments, considering that text and online giving are emerging as preferred channels for Gen X and Y donors,” said Renee Bowker, CEO of Telco Together Foundation.
Australia has become the fifth biggest downloader of mobile applications (apps) per head, globally[2] and last week’s Reading Room research revealed that only 16% of Australian charities offer a mobile website[3], 3% (of the 30 charities studied) offer an app, and 80% offer no mobile experience at all.
“After speaking with numerous charities over the past 12 months, it became clear that mobile technology is a common area of confusion. The not-for-profit sector is often restricted by limited resources and an inability to spend valuable community dollars on technology consultants and research,” said Bowker.
“The Apps4Change program is an opportunity for the telco industry to support Australian charities wanting to learn more about mobile technologies and apps, through a simple exchange of information,” said Bowker.
Mobile apps is the focus of Apps4Change, with the website apps4change.org.au acting as a centralised hub for information on mobile apps in the charity space. The site will also showcase creative and innovative charity apps, categorised by key functionality - fundraising, service delivery and cause awareness - and provide inspiration for charities and app developers working in this space. Telco Together are encouraging all not-for-profits to submit their apps by completing the ‘Submit Your App’ section of the website.
The website features a learning centre, with useful tips for developing, marketing and measuring the effectiveness of apps. These topics will also be explored through a series of free webinars on mobile applications to be delivered in the coming months.
To overcome the cost barriers for charities, Telco Together has also been working in conjunction with its member organisation AppsWiz, and fundraising platform provider EveryDay Hero, on the development of an easy to use, low-cost app solution, suitable for charities.
The AppsWiz offer - available to all Australian not-for-profits - provides native apps for iPhone, iPad & Android phones and tablets, and includes full app functionality, such as an events calendar, free push alerts, maps, media gallery and social media integration. The offer has been specially tailored to the needs of charities, with a built-in fundraising function, (incorporating the widely used Everyday Hero platform), to ensure the capacity to receive mobile donations.
The incorporation of the Everyday Hero platform was an important consideration throughout the development of this app offer through AppsWiz, ensuring that those charities already registered with Everyday Hero are spared from the unnecessary burden of joining another fundraising platform.
Telco Together is a unified platform enabling the telecommunications industry to make a significant social contribution within Australia. The Apps4Change program marks the launch of its very first community project since inauguration in July 2012.
Information on the Apps4Change webinar series will be released shortly, interested not-for-profits can register their interest for webinars at www.apps4change.org.au
About Telco Together Foundation
Launched in July 2012, the Telco Together Foundation is a registered charity that brings together the
telecommunications industry in support of disadvantaged communities in areas including Indigenous communities, the homeless, mental health and refugees. Creating a unique and wide reaching platform for social change by drawing on the industry’s core capabilities, strengths and access to technology is the cornerstone of the Foundation’s vision
Members of the Foundation include Optus, Vodafone, NBN Co, M2, iiNet, AAPT, Aggregato, Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco, Community Telco, Informatel, Skybridge, Telcoinabox, and Vocus Communications. The Foundation is governed by an Advisory Board chaired by Mike Quigley, and with CEO level representation from members.
For more information, please visit our website www.telcotogether.org and www.apps4change.org.au, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Linked In.
[1] April 2013, Mobile Internet Access Rises 208% in Three Years – Magna Global, http://mediabrands.com.au/documents/magna_unlocking_mobile.pdf
[2]June 2012, Xylogic 2012 Survey results http://xyologic.com/app-downloads-reports
[3] October 2013, ‘Giving On The Go? How charities are missing out on mobile donations’ , The Reading Room, http://mediabrands.com.au/documents/magna_unlocking_mobile.pdf
More Australians now access the internet from mobile devices than from PCs and laptops, and a recent Magna Global study found 57% of website visitors expect their experience to be mobile friendly.[1] It is now more important than ever for charities to understand the impact of emerging mobile technologies on their operations.
“Unlocking the power of mobile technology has the capacity to help charities be more effective, especially in terms of engaging new and younger donor segments, considering that text and online giving are emerging as preferred channels for Gen X and Y donors,” said Renee Bowker, CEO of Telco Together Foundation.
Australia has become the fifth biggest downloader of mobile applications (apps) per head, globally[2] and last week’s Reading Room research revealed that only 16% of Australian charities offer a mobile website[3], 3% (of the 30 charities studied) offer an app, and 80% offer no mobile experience at all.
“After speaking with numerous charities over the past 12 months, it became clear that mobile technology is a common area of confusion. The not-for-profit sector is often restricted by limited resources and an inability to spend valuable community dollars on technology consultants and research,” said Bowker.
“The Apps4Change program is an opportunity for the telco industry to support Australian charities wanting to learn more about mobile technologies and apps, through a simple exchange of information,” said Bowker.
Mobile apps is the focus of Apps4Change, with the website apps4change.org.au acting as a centralised hub for information on mobile apps in the charity space. The site will also showcase creative and innovative charity apps, categorised by key functionality - fundraising, service delivery and cause awareness - and provide inspiration for charities and app developers working in this space. Telco Together are encouraging all not-for-profits to submit their apps by completing the ‘Submit Your App’ section of the website.
The website features a learning centre, with useful tips for developing, marketing and measuring the effectiveness of apps. These topics will also be explored through a series of free webinars on mobile applications to be delivered in the coming months.
To overcome the cost barriers for charities, Telco Together has also been working in conjunction with its member organisation AppsWiz, and fundraising platform provider EveryDay Hero, on the development of an easy to use, low-cost app solution, suitable for charities.
The AppsWiz offer - available to all Australian not-for-profits - provides native apps for iPhone, iPad & Android phones and tablets, and includes full app functionality, such as an events calendar, free push alerts, maps, media gallery and social media integration. The offer has been specially tailored to the needs of charities, with a built-in fundraising function, (incorporating the widely used Everyday Hero platform), to ensure the capacity to receive mobile donations.
The incorporation of the Everyday Hero platform was an important consideration throughout the development of this app offer through AppsWiz, ensuring that those charities already registered with Everyday Hero are spared from the unnecessary burden of joining another fundraising platform.
Telco Together is a unified platform enabling the telecommunications industry to make a significant social contribution within Australia. The Apps4Change program marks the launch of its very first community project since inauguration in July 2012.
Information on the Apps4Change webinar series will be released shortly, interested not-for-profits can register their interest for webinars at www.apps4change.org.au
About Telco Together Foundation
Launched in July 2012, the Telco Together Foundation is a registered charity that brings together the
telecommunications industry in support of disadvantaged communities in areas including Indigenous communities, the homeless, mental health and refugees. Creating a unique and wide reaching platform for social change by drawing on the industry’s core capabilities, strengths and access to technology is the cornerstone of the Foundation’s vision
Members of the Foundation include Optus, Vodafone, NBN Co, M2, iiNet, AAPT, Aggregato, Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco, Community Telco, Informatel, Skybridge, Telcoinabox, and Vocus Communications. The Foundation is governed by an Advisory Board chaired by Mike Quigley, and with CEO level representation from members.
For more information, please visit our website www.telcotogether.org and www.apps4change.org.au, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Linked In.
[1] April 2013, Mobile Internet Access Rises 208% in Three Years – Magna Global, http://mediabrands.com.au/documents/magna_unlocking_mobile.pdf
[2]June 2012, Xylogic 2012 Survey results http://xyologic.com/app-downloads-reports
[3] October 2013, ‘Giving On The Go? How charities are missing out on mobile donations’ , The Reading Room, http://mediabrands.com.au/documents/magna_unlocking_mobile.pdf