16 - Contact council anywhere, anytime

 

The council’s successful Digi TV site is now available on all mobile phones that have the ability to connect to the internet. This means people who are out and about can report issues such as potholes, vandalism and street light problems whilst on the move.

 

The pioneering Digi TV system was launched in Dudley in September last year and has already attracted thousands of visitors.

 

The free service allows residents with digital interactive television packages such as Sky and Virgin Media (including Telewest and NTL) or WAP enabled mobile phones, to access services 24 hours a day, seven days a week via the interactive button on their remote control. The launch of the mobile phone service will mean even more residents have access to the service.

 

Through the innovative system people can report things such as litter, potholes, vandalism, bin collections, council housing repairs, abandoned vehicles and street light problems.

 

And residents can also find out more about the council’s services by requesting benefits leaflets, recycling services, vote forms along with direct debit, blue badge, school register and housing register application forms.

 

On top of this people can find out bus and train times, search for jobs and make appointments to visit their GP.

 

“We are hopeful that this service over the mobile phone will encourage more people to contact the council at their convenience. I would like to think this kind of service will be used by younger people across the borough who regularly use their mobile phones.

 

“Digi TV is certainly not designed to replace any of the existing ways we communicate such as face to face, over the phone or on the internet but it does provide a convenient alternative for many people to contact us.”

 

Dudley was one of the first authorities in the midlands and the first in the Black Country to take on Digi TV and people can access the Dudley site from anywhere in the country.

 

The Dudley Digi TV site also includes information on the council’s services in relation to care and caring, jobs and careers, home and housing, leisure and culture, transport and streets, rubbish and recycling, education and learning and community safety.

 

To access the site via their mobile phone people simply need to  go to http://www.digitv.gov.uk/digitv/cds/lookinglocal/mobile/home.  Those using mobile network 3 can access the site even easier by going to services, then websites, Look up Stuff and then Looking Local.

 

Meanwhile, through their digital television people should simply press the interactive button on their remote controls and follow the interactive services through to local services. Users can fill in their details to request information using the control in the same way as texting from a mobile phone.