New Microsoft App To Coordinate Disaster-Relief Efforts 69
An anonymous reader writes "Microsoft on Wednesday launched a new mobile app powered by Windows Azure called HelpBridge that lets you both ask for help after a natural disaster, as well as offer to give it. In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the launch is an excellent initiative to rally everyone around one cause: supporting each other during a time of need. You can download the app right now from the Google Play Store, the Apple App Store, and the Windows Phone Store. Unfortunately, it's only available in the US right now, but hopefully Microsoft will be expanding regional support soon."
But what about when all power is gone? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:But what about when all power is gone? (Score:5, Funny)
Disaster relief?
Do we REALLY need another Windows 8 story? :-)
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There were also people migrating to areas with power, cell signal, and extension cords to charge their phones. There are dead spots all the time in a lot of places. When's the last time there was no power or cell towers anywhere? 1600's? This is a practical solution if executed right.
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June 2012...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_2012_North_American_derecho [wikipedia.org]
Pitiful (Score:2)
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What a sorry excuse of a program from a business which should know better...
It works fine. You just have to use it with Microsoft's patented "Blaze for Sure" natural disasters.
40% of mobile 911 calls are pocket-dialed... (Score:3)
I hope this app has a more foolproof way of preventing false signals.
MS should use it (Score:1)
Maybe they can save the Ballmer's job with this new app
Re:Huh! (Score:5, Funny)
help help! (Score:1, Troll)
Help!-bluescreen-crap-reboot-Help!-bluescreen-Crap!-reboot-Help!-bluescreen-CRAP!-reboot
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I chuckled at this.
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At least now there is a happy face on the bluescreen...
http://tctechcrunch2011.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/image23.png?w=640 [wordpress.com]
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At least now there is a happy face on the bluescreen...
http://tctechcrunch2011.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/image23.png?w=640 [wordpress.com]
I did not know that. Wow, Microsoft finally catches up to January 1984.
So let me get this straight (Score:1)
Of all four Android devices I own... (Score:2)
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Shoulda bought a Windows 8 Phone Scro'.
Only old people use Android.
What a great thing (Score:2, Interesting)
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... when they build in a flood plane but don't want to bother to buy flood insurance. After all, they needed to money that they could have spent on flood insurance to pay for their fancy smart phone to run the app...
That's a very cynical view; insurance policies are much trickier than that. For example, the "anti-concurrent causation clause", which states that "if you have two events happen at the same time, one that is covered and the other that is not covered by the policy, the insurance company doesn't have to pay for either. So if your house has damage from wind, which is covered by your policy, and it also has damage from a flood, which is not covered, the insurance company doesn't have to pay for either the wind
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Zurich?
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Los Angeles, San Diego, Denver, Chicago, Seatle ......
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Bzzzz. Incorrect.
Most of Chicago and surrounding suburbia is in a flood plane from the Des Plaines and Salt Creek rivers. I know, I live near there - but on relatively high ground so I don't get my basement flooded every time there is a two-day rainfall like my neighbors.
Not sure about the others, but you never know...
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Why do companies do this? (Score:5, Interesting)
Unfortunately, it's only available in the US right now, but hopefully Microsoft will be expanding regional support soon."
Making the app available in jurisdictions other than the US is a no brainer to me. If I am a company, all I want is to make as much dough as I can. So why would a company restrict availability of a product to a selected market at the outset; if making it available to a larger customer base is a matter of coding?
I have done it on behalf of my small startup which unfortunaltely, was aquired and the new owner discountinued the product. But for a number of customers outside the USA, our products were good. And we sold them without any support. Cusomers [still] bought. We made about 19% of our sales this way. Now Microsoft launches an app and makes it only availabe to those in the USA.
Why do companies do this? Let the customer purchase the product at his/her own risk. They will still buy - I mean some.
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So put one up in YOUR COUNTRY. Microsoft is primarily a US company and for this app to be any use, your local government would have to coordinate with Microsoft. This is bleeding edge new, and probably doesn't even have anybody "listening" over 95% of the USA... In the EU they would have to have warranty and staffing or get accused of "false advertising" you can't just "float an idea" like this without massive government intervention... So Microsoft isn't even going to let you try it.
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Yeah, and be sued into deeper than Cambodian turd farmer poverty because M$ has taken patents out on every aspect of this prior to release in every space imaginable.
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So why would a company restrict availability of a product to a selected market at the outset; if making it available to a larger customer base is a matter of coding?
Because it is never just a "matter of coding?"
When you are as big as Microsoft you need to understand the language, the culture, the law, politics, and economics of every market you enter.
Your small startup doesn't have a global presence and accountability. Your mistakes do not make headlines.
In truth you are all but invisible and almost certainly judgment-proof.
Do the Crisis Mappers Know about that ?!? (Score:1)
http://crisismappers.net/
OpenStreetMap, Ushahidi, Sahana ... in Haiti and in New York
M$ft, you innovate nothing
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"Help is on the..." BLUESCREEN (Score:1)
yeah. good luck with that.
Re: Without towers though... (Score:1)
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"A spokesman for the FCC said the agency will look at whether to require backup power."
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/11/18/sen-schumer-cell-towers-should-have-backup-power-to-prevent-widespread-service-outages-like-after-sandy/ [cbslocal.com]
It was to be 8h min of backup electric power at most cell sites but that was lost in the need for more
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Web App (Score:3)
It seems incredibly stupid to me not to just use the web. Why limit it to people who just have a device of a certain OS? Oh right, making money.
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Not everybody has a smartphone. Shocking, I know.
Disaster relief? (Score:2)
What type of disaster? Are they referring to the BSOD?
New Microsoft App To Coordinate Disaster-Relief... (Score:3)
Memory check (Score:1)
So this is it. (Score:3)
We're going to die.
A disaster to coordinate a disaster (Score:1)
I think they should try to use it to coordinate their own disasters first, maybe then Microsoft will start to suck a bit less?
Something is fishy (Score:2)
Dawin technology (Score:2)
Sahana has been doing this for years (Score:2)
http://sahanafoundation.org/ [sahanafoundation.org]
I applaud Microsoft's effort, but part of me thinks this might be more about PR than a genuine attempt to save lives.
A PR stunt that ultimately endangers lives (Score:1)
If this were any other application, I would argue that competition is good, but I fear that the fragmentation of services for disaster relief ultimately puts more lives at risk. Why doesn't Microsoft through its support & resources behind a well-established, widely-adopted system for collective disaster management? To provide yet another service t
First attempt with big company support behind it? (Score:1)