local councils get the message

As mobile phones become nearly ubiquitous, new applications are emerging all the time. Here’s an example, at least one Sydney local government district, now provides information on road works, garbage pick ups and sporting field bookings via SMS text messages. Residents sign up on-line and get updates of major local council works in their locality. See here.

SMS is a great technology and Australians, in particular, love it. My guess is that love affair will blossom with the whole range of mobile chat and messaging technologies. And this is a field that fring is especially strong. So how long will it be before we can subscribe to chat or ‘micro-blogging’ services from, say. local councils?