Guardian24 have announced that a lone worker iPhone application is now available for their users from the Apple App Store.
Guardian24 says that it already provides access to its protection services through traditional mobile phones, Blackberry devices, Android phones, PDAs, tablets and a broad range of specialist personal alarm devices. Until recently Guardian24 had provided basic services for iPhone users, but can now deliver more iOS optimised services.
Henry Woods, CEO of Guardian24 said: “Guardian24 became the market leader in this sector by delivering services on whichever device best suited both the organisation and the end user. In this way we provide the maximum flexibility and choice for our solution users. This approach has become even more important following the widespread move to ‘BYOD’ (Bring Your Own Device) where users run applications on their own chosen mobile phone technology. Some users may prefer a simple mobile phone; others may want to use an advanced smartphone while others may prefer to use none of these but instead to carry an alarm device. Guardian24 allows all of these preferences to be available – and mixed – within one overall system. In addition, Guardian24 also uniquely allows each end user to have the service available to them on two devices – in recognition of the growing trend to have both a work and personal device. With the launch of our iPhone app we now provide optimised solutions for almost every sector of the handset market”
In 2013 Guardian24 was named the “IFSEC UK Lone Worker Product of the Year” for its first Android version, pictured.
The development of the iPhone solution has been under way for some time, the Belfast-based firm says. While some technology suppliers such as Blackberry and the Android ecosystem operate what is termed an ‘open development’ environment where system level code access is provided to developers to add, amend and adapt, Apple has been operating a tightly closed (and thus highly integrated) environment. Guardian24 understood this approach but also realised the development challenges specific to lone working. For some time Guardian24 has worked with Apple to overcome these.
Guardian24 says that its service turns a range of devices, mobile and smart phones into dedicated ‘Mobile Personal Safety’ devices that go beyond traditional single user ‘apps’. With Guardian24 a user can schedule their activities and timings. If the user ‘overstays’ their current appointment, the product will contact them to confirm all is well. If they can’t enter a PIN or enter a duress code then the system moves to ‘alarm status’ and streams audio. Alarm monitoring staff, working on behalf of the user’s employer, can listen in and advise the police or other responders. Guardian24 also details the device location at the same time to aid in that response.
About Guardian24
The Belfast based company. supplies solutions to the UK mobile and lone worker sectors. The subscriber base now exceeds 33,000 UK users; with about 400 public and private sector organisations using the services. Among customers are local authorities, healthcare services, housing associations, central government bodies, educational institutions, charities, banks, insurance and construction firms. Also visit www.guardian24.co.uk or www.guardianmps.com (in the USA) for more general company information
