Randwick Council in Australia is now benefiting from a community text service developed in the UK. The service provided by Dialogue Communications gives local residents information on Council services ranging from playing field status, local road works, clean up days and events, instantaneously via the Internet or mobile SMS.

The service allows the council to create different mobile campaigns quickly and easily, such as database builder, SMS to email, broadcast facilities, text to screen, and messaging to text in images and videos or distribute information or brochures. By opting in to a registration page or texting in a keyword to a mobile number, residents can also receive up-to-date information such as the availability of sporting fields. Residents can also report issues to the Council, such as potholes and illegally dumped rubbish.

Commenting on the launch, Cr Bruce Notely-Smith, Mayor of Randwick City said, “We wanted to provide information to the community that uses the one device we all rely on – our mobile”.

The Australian application has been developed from community text services to 40 Councils and Police Forces in the UK, to provide means for the deaf and speech impaired to report emergencies using text messaging.