British government comes under fire for wasting hundreds of thousands on iPhone apps

July 6, 2010 | By Surur

Your tax money, wasted

It seems the iPhone App bubble with its irrational exuberance which demolishes all logic has also affected the British government.

After a Freedom of Information request by the BBC it was revealed various government departments have been spending tens of thousands of pounds on a handful of smartphone apps, including £40,000 on an application to teach drivers how to change a tire and more than £32 000 on a jobseeker app.

Of course in the bigger scheme of things a few hundred thousand pounds is nothing in terms of government spending, but with only 2.5 million iPhones in UK the applications serve less than 3.5% of the UK population, meaning the vast majority of people are paying to expand Steve Jobs’s app store for the very few, likely very rich.

Fortunately the new government, who have been voted in on a mandate of cost saving, seems to have come to their senses somewhat, saying:

“The Government recently announced a freeze on all marketing and advertising spend for this year and this includes iPhone applications. While the Government wants to ensure that information and services are available in the most efficient and convenient forms, future spend on iPhone development will be subject to strict controls: only essential activity, approved by the Efficiency and Reform Group, which is chaired by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, will be allowed.”

A bit more due diligence in App development would needs to spread much further than just unfortunately.

Read more at the BBC here, and use the comments there to let readers know how you feel about your tax money going to subsidize apps you, and most other people, cant use.

About Surur

Site Admin and Windows Phone enthusiast, he has been using Windows Mobile devices since before they were called PocketPC’s. He is currently sporting a HTC 7 Trophy.

Tagged government, iphone, uk

Guest

The decision about the jobseeker app was outrageous indeed. If somebody is not familiar with the case – the UK government spent £32,000 on the app which works on the most expensive phone available and targets people without a job. At the same time the Jobseeker website is miles from being user friendly and useful.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Northerngeek Northerngeek

I would like to avoid any political debate and just say what I feel I KNOW, rather than what I think, however if you have any misgivings about what I say here I'll respond calmly.

To me this is the sort of thing that made me want Labour out, they were far too concerned about branding and not willing to repair the damage they did (and those before them). Wasting money on tech fads is something I don't want a government to do, instead we're in a scenario where Europe's largest employer (the NHS) doesn't have a unified computer system leading to massive inefficiencies. Parties should spend money in order to save it long term and stop passing on good investments, either that or the NHS should be privatised.

I was never that politically minded however recently politicians have just sickened me. Everything is done for self-preservation, which I can understand however my vote will go to the party that gets results.
Asgard

I think those apps were quite good in idea but for locked platform that has just marginal market share? lol. Only explanation for this kind of stupidity is pribes. There is no politician who would make that kind of mistake for free. Politicians decisions has always some reason behind them and this time the reason must be money. Or can someone else come up with someting more likely?
http://intensedebate.com/people/Fellwalker Fellwalker

Interesting photo! Couldn't you find a Brit who was prepared to crumple lots of pound notes for your photo?

Surur

Haven’t you heard there is a recession going on???