“SafeBridge” can function with limited internet or no internet availability on the phone. After registration for the app, the user must first preset the contacts of friends and relatives to be notified in the case of an imminent threat. The one-touch function of simply pressing a “HELP ME!” button to send out an SMS with GPS information decreases response time in emergency situations. There is an “I’m Safe” button to immediately notify contacts that everything is alright, in the cases when the threat is over. The beta version of the application is currently available for both low-end and high-end Android phones and will soon be available for iPhone and BlackBerry devices.
The “help” and “safe” messages can be personalized. The application has a “Track Me” feature, which includes sending out the user’s current location at pre-determined intervals. The application also includes a directory of police stations in Delhi.
Telerik’s team plans to add other Indian cities to this police directory as well as city-by-city contact information of hospitals and NGOs in the country. The app will also include the option to report crimes the user witnesses but may not be the victim of.
Abhishek Kant, country manager of Telerik India, said, “Since opening our office in New Delhi in 2012, we at Telerik have made it our priority to be active citizens of this society. The urgency of the recent incidents required a prompt response and thanks to Telerik’ products, we are able to quickly build the application for all types of phone users.”
Telerik’s team managed within 2 weeks – and with just 4 days for development by only 1 developer – to build, test and launch the beta version of the app on the Android market.