Community information a new way

A while ago we blogged on fixmystreet and now - in the same vein - comes the world of Nixle. Nixle is a community information service where location-based information is pushed out directly to the community by SMS, web and email. Nixle says it is the “first authenticated and secure service for connecting municipal agencies, schools and community organisations with residents in real time.” This means police departments can send alerts and advisories right from their police terminals. Local people can also broadcast locally targeted news, events, and recommendations.

Nixle is offered at no cost to government agencies, community organisations and consumers. Local residents can decide how much information they want to receive in real time; and all messages are archived online for later access.

Since Nixle launched publicly about a year ago, more than 3,800 public safety and community agencies across the United States have begun using it. The New Jersey-based company also plans to expand internationally; could you be a partner in your part of the world? (Related: More neighbourhood problem-solving: SeeClickFix — In Boston, an iPhone app for civic complaints — In San Francisco, civic complaints via Twitter.)

While we know that not everyone will want to engage this way it does open up a new way for public agencies to interact with local people.