DESCRIPTION:
WeAdvocate is a cutomizable mobile application to help members of advocacy organizations communicate with their legislators. The application guides users to create a personalized email for their legislator from their mobile phone. To simplify the process [and increase the number of emails sent to legislators], the application automatically looks up the contact information for the user based on his county of residence and/or zip code. This information is used to automatically route the generated email. The user does not even need to know the name of his legislator in order to email them or to call them.
The application also allows the user to use the phone's camera to snap a picture and send it along with his message as a way to "give his message a face." Alternatively, the user can select a picture from his phone's media gallery to send with the message.
The app also allows users to show support for their advocacy organization by posting messages to their personal Facebook Wall directly from within the application.
ADMINISTRATIVE FEATURES:
To assist coalition leaders implement their advocacy mission, the app:
1) "Call to Action"
This feature allows coalition leaders to send out a high priority "push message" similar to a text-message to the user's phone. This feature is often used by coalition leaders to coordinate the timing of time-critical messaging campaigns to legislators.
2) "Advanced Analytic"
The app tracks a wide range of user behavior, which coalition leaders can use to make data-driven decision. Specifically, the app tracks the number of messages sent, the email address of the senders, the legislators targeted, the geographical region represented by the targeted legislators, and a time stamp of each email session. The app does not track the content of the email to guard the user's privacy.
CUSTOMIZATION:
When your organization contracts us to make you a version of this app, we (a) change the graphics to fit into your branding, (b) update the list of legislators/counties/districts to reflect your State (or even national) , (c) update the pre-loaded message, (d) put it on the App stores for you, and (e) provide a web interface for getting 'usage stastics' such as the number of downloads/number of emails sent, etc. We can, of course, also develop custom software functionality for your version of the app beyond the included modules.
It takes approximately 2 weeks for us to customize the app and put it on the app store for your organization.
PLATFORMS:
We can make versions of the app for any mobile platform, including: iPhone, Android, Java Me, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile 7, BREW, Symbian OS, or even a mobile-web version for non smartphones.
USER EXPERIENCE:
You can view a PDF of the typical user experience with the app by clicking on the link below. Note this particular version of the app has been customized for the Indiana Virtual School Families. Your organization's version would include similar functionality, but have difference graphics to fit into your branding.
TRY IT:
You can download a version of the app from the Apple App store from the link below. Again, this particular version of the app has been customized for the Indiana Virtual School Families. Your organization's version would include similar functionality, but have difference graphics to fit into your branding.