Netshift Chosen in Large Project
Compuware Corporation (NASDAQ: CPWR), the software and services provider, has chosen NetShift as one of its strategic partners for a project with Torfaen Borough Council. The �1.1M contract, won by the software and services provider......
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Compuware Chooses NetShift for Torfaen Borough Council Project
London UK, 13 October, 2003 - Compuware Corporation (NASDAQ: CPWR), the software and services provider, has chosen NetShift as one of its strategic partners for a project with Torfaen Borough Council. The �1.1M contract, won by the software and services provider Compuware, is for the development and deployment of a community portal within the Torfaen Borough in South Wales. Torfaen�s portal, being introduced as part of a pilot project in the area, will provide information and services under the following headings: Public Service, The Community and Business. The portal will be branded �Webster� and is being funded by the European Regional Development Fund, The Welsh National Assembly, The Welsh Development Agency and the Council itself.
30 Internet kiosks will be installed across the Borough providing information and services to its citizens. NetShift will be responsible for designing the user interface which will look to attract and encourage people to use the kiosk. NetShift will also provide remote management technology enabling continual monitoring, fault diagnosis, problem management, content management and reporting.
The portal will be launched in January 2004 and will initially operate for 18 months; however the council is already exploring funding opportunities to sustain the portals� future. Although the concept of a community portal is not new, this project is widely viewed as ground-breaking due to the involvement of the community and the breadth of services planned. Public and voluntary sector organisations will be able to provide and maintain content and interactive services via an easy to use content management interface. Torfaen County Borough Council will also be integrating existing public services, with information provided by community groups and other local organisations. To assist them in providing content these groups will receive at least one PC, a broadband Internet connection (where available), an e-mail account, access to two community outreach workers and a training programme free of charge. Businesses will be offered similar incentives to provide content for the portal. Chat rooms and discussion boards will also be formed to encourage community groups and business to share ideas and thoughts. Also planned is a teaching and learning section, which will deliver information of interest to teachers, pupils, parents and training organisations.
�Being in the position of prime contractor for this project meant that we needed to be sure that not only the price of the kiosk solution was competitive, but it also had to be of the highest quality and reliability,� comments Steve Jobson, Vice President UK and Ireland, Compuware Ltd. �NetShift demonstrated a thorough understanding of how to build, deploy and run kiosks in a local government environment. They also worked extremely hard to make sure the solution was the right one which mirrors our own ethic.�
Posted by Craig at October 13, 2003 03:01 PM