California Portal Goes Wireless

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- California is continuing to retool its portal with the recent launch of wireless services. The move puts California among the first state governments to offer wireless access to content through Web-ready palm devices or cell phones.

The states wireless services include direct access to state lottery results, public notices and executive orders, traffic updates and alerts and energy notifications and information -- a critical service for Californians, according to Arun Baheti, director of e-government.

Commuters can request realtime updates on conditions for three major highways, and lottery information can be customized to alert users to when jackpots exceed certain amounts.

"The reason we are able to do this so quickly is because of the framework we established," he said. "The portal is not a static site. It has live content, and we dont have to go in and recode the information. All we are doing is creating a template for it. The governors vision continues to focus on delivering service and information. Wireless opens a new channel that will lead to additional services based on customer demand."

Other jurisdictions have implemented wireless technologies. Some county building departments are outfitting inspectors with wireless devices to use in the field. Lincoln, Neb., recently launched a Web site that can be accessed by wireless users, but the joint city/county wireless system requires that palm users download software from the Web site.

Access to Californias system is direct to the portal.

Baheti said wireless technology presents many challenges in the government arena where consistency and access are critical factors. Few standards exist among carriers or the makers of equipment. The screens on handheld devices are several different sizes, depending upon the maker and model, and content has to be designed to fit within these various windows.

Perhaps more important is the reliability factor.

"If there are problems with synchronization or a cell-phone carrier, the public cant blame the government," Baheti explained.

Information might be immediately sent to an individual who has requested updates, only to be held up by the carrier.

These are only a few of the challenges the California team has faced in launching the service. A consortium of state agencies is working within the limitations of the current wireless climate to create the initial menu of services. Private partners in the project include Kana, Broadbase and Deloitte Consulting.

Baheti said state librarians, led by John Jewel, have developed a sophisticated organizational system that helps users find information more easily.

"The library team did an amazing job once again," Baheti said, noting that the categorization system allows people to search for information with phrases that dont require the use of specific words. "We now have a very rational and structured way to keep putting information into the system."

Baheti said wireless access will continue to expand to include other services and information offered on the states portal.

Since the launch of Californias new portal, public use has soared. According to Jupiter Media Matrix, Californias site is the nations fourth most-trafficked government portals.

Darby Patterson, Center for Digital Government