07 July 2010 | Author: J. Morton News Editor

Government spending freeze: There's (not) an app for that

The British Government has announced a freeze on advertising and marketing expenditure, including funds spent on developing iPhone apps, after the BBC revealed the developments costs of the smartphone applications and backlash from certain groups.

"The government recently announced a freeze on all marketing and advertising spend for this year and this includes iPhone applications," the Cabinet Office announced in a prepared statement.

The announcement came as the BBC discovered that several applications for the industry-leading iPhone cost the UK taxpayers between £10,000 and £40,000 per app. The costs had to be investigated via a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, as the Home Office cited 'security reasons' to keep the information secret.

Two applications were developed for the NHS at a cost of £10,000, as well as a £32,775 app for Jobcentre Plus and a £40,000 programme for DVLA Masterclass.

These revelations were met with a mixed reaction from the tech community and the general public.

"It seems many Government bodies have given in to the temptation to spend money on fashionable gimmicks at a time when they are meant to be cutting back on self-indulgent wastes of money," Mark Wallace of the Tax Payers' Alliance told BBC News.

Some have questioned the validity of someone owning an iPhone - a high-cost device with premium coverage plans - needing something like the Jobcentre Plus app.

Wallace said developing apps would not help the British public with its current economic woes.

"Someone who is faced with losing their home because of high tax bills, or whose life is being ruined by crime isn't going to get any reassurance from knowing 'there's an app for that'," he said.

Some pundits, however, such as Galen Gruman of InfoWorld, said they thought the controversy "was a joke."

Gruman said he was "shocked that people would believe it to be unseemly and even objectionable that a government was using modern technology to help its citizens."

The government asserted its belt-tightening on the apps - although The Register reports there are two more in development.

"Future spend on iPhone development will be subject to strict controls: only essential activity, approved by the Efficiency and Reform Group, which is chaired by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, will be allowed," the Cabinet Office stated.

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