Dubai leading 'm-government' services

Link: Khaleej Times Online – Dubai has ambitious targets for m-government system.

I don’t have any other statistics to look at — but when you compare what they’re doing with mobile-government services in Dubai, the UK is left biting the dust.

In 2003 Dubai Government launched SMS services. Push SMS services are available for driving licence renewals, traffic jam information, health card renewals and trade licence renewals. The number of customers for these services has reached a little over 7 million since its inception. To date, 168,623 customers have accessed pull SMS services, which includes flight information, the payment of traffic fines, and information pertaining to trade licence status.

In September 2005, the mobile portal http://mobile.dubai.ae was launched. Serving as a single point for accessing all public services it has eliminated the complexity and delays of bureaucratic procedures. The mobile portal allows users to access visa information and police services such as traffic fine enquiries and payments and obtain prayer timings. Users can also search for hotels, check out arrivals and departures from Dubai airport, obtain entertainment information and financial services data.