PMO launches Obama-visit app
Photo: AFP
PM's Office presents: Obama app
New smartphone application to allow press, Israelis to follow US president's visit step-by-step, watch real-time pictures, videos
The Prime Minster's Office's National Information Directorate
has launched a new smartphone application
in preparation for US President Barack Obama's
visit
on March 20.
The application, which is already available for download via Apple's App Store, and will be available for Android as of next week, is meant to assist journalists covering the presidential visit, but will also be open to the average citizen craving real time updates.
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Besides text updates, the application will include visuals updates from Obama's visit, as well as interfacing with social networks.
The application will offer full details about each event Obama is scheduled to participate in, as well as a real-time stream of video and still photographs from Government Press Office's official photographers, news agencies and amateur photographers shooting via mobile phones.
The application, launched in preparation of Obama's visit, can be found by searching for the words "Prime Minister's Office" and is currently available in English and Hebrew. The Arabic version is expected soon.
With the conclusion of the visit, the application will not shut down, rather continuing to serve users, but this time providing information regarding the ongoing activities of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
Pressing matters
Meanwhile, with hundreds of foreign journalist scheduled to descend on the country during the visit, the PMO has also opened a hot-line for journalists, in an attempt to alleviate the pressure on the Government Press Office, which will also be operating the hotline.
The hotline will offer a multitude of services for the foreign press, from detailed information regarding the trip itself to Jerusalem dinner recommendations.
"We want to make the journalists' coverage easier," says Liran Dan, head of the National Information Directorate.
The Jerusalem Municipality is also teaming up with the PMO to prepare a "good time" for the Jerusalem bound journalist.
This "good time" will include organized tours throughout city attractions like the Mahane Yehuda Market, the Ice City (where they will be greeted by a life-size Obama ice-sculpture) and tasty meetings with Jerusalem chefs.
