Say you have been stranded in the middle of nowhere without any access to any emergency response services. Or you got mugged and left somewhere without help. At these times, if you have your smartphone handy, it will probably be able to bring you help from your loved ones.
It is made possible by the new HelpBridge app from Microsoft. This is a new app that Microsoft’s ‘Disaster Response Team’ released a few days ago. The advantage of the app is that it is not only available for Windows Phone, but also for Android and iOS. So, it doesn’t matter whether you have a Galaxy S3 or an iPhone, you can still use this Microsoft app.
The app has two parts, essentially. One that can ask for help on your behalf and another that gives help to others that want it. The get help part is easy. As a first step, HelpBridge builds an emergency contact list on your smartphone. It asks you who you want to contact when you are in danger. You can select a few family members and friends to be involved in this. HelpBridge automatically populates the contact information of your emergency friend, including their email address and Facebook profile details besides the phone number.
When you need help, the app can send a preset text message, something like “I need help” to all the emergency contacts. They can get the message not only on the phone, but also on email and Facebook. This is an intelligent thing to do, as nobody knows which channel the friend will be able to help you.
With the message, you will be able to send your location information as well. What use is a get help message without your location, right?
When you want to give help, the app has a number of options as well. The giving help part is however slightly different from the get help part. It is not exactly to a person that is asking for help through HelpBridge that you are giving help. Instead, you are given options to voluntarily work for some charities or donate money in favor of a charity.
Microsoft has partnered with a few charity intermediaries to bring you options to donate and volunteer. They include GuideStar and Mobile Giving Foundation (Text-to-give) which can help you donate small amounts like 5 or 10 dollars to a desired charity. Here are a few text messages that you can send to donate money. When you send these messages, the amount will be added to your monthly phone bill, and the money will be completely transferred to the respective charity.
Text “GIVEUSA” to 777444 for donating 10 dollars to World Vision. Text “RECOVERY” to 52000 to donate 10 dollars to United Way of NYC. More of such text messages will be available within the HelpBridge app. The complete list is available here.
In the same way, you can donate money through PayPal or goods through AidMatrix Supply Chain Management firm. All of these options are available directly from the ‘Give Help’ part of the app.
The app is available on your native app store, if you are not using Symbian or BlackBerry 10. The app currently supports only Windows Phone, Android, and Apple iOS, as a free download. Also, HelpBridge currently works within the US only.
Get the app here:
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps
Apple iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/helpbridge/id576543879?ls=1&mt=8
Windows Phone: http://windowsphone.com/s?appid=f57af950-e37e-403b-b71d-b8856fab2b15
This app is a very important one, and it is available for free. You don’t know when you really need this kind of an app, and that is the reason why you should have it on your phone.
It is made possible by the new HelpBridge app from Microsoft. This is a new app that Microsoft’s ‘Disaster Response Team’ released a few days ago. The advantage of the app is that it is not only available for Windows Phone, but also for Android and iOS. So, it doesn’t matter whether you have a Galaxy S3 or an iPhone, you can still use this Microsoft app.
What Does It Do?
The app has two parts, essentially. One that can ask for help on your behalf and another that gives help to others that want it. The get help part is easy. As a first step, HelpBridge builds an emergency contact list on your smartphone. It asks you who you want to contact when you are in danger. You can select a few family members and friends to be involved in this. HelpBridge automatically populates the contact information of your emergency friend, including their email address and Facebook profile details besides the phone number.
When you need help, the app can send a preset text message, something like “I need help” to all the emergency contacts. They can get the message not only on the phone, but also on email and Facebook. This is an intelligent thing to do, as nobody knows which channel the friend will be able to help you.
With the message, you will be able to send your location information as well. What use is a get help message without your location, right?
When you want to give help, the app has a number of options as well. The giving help part is however slightly different from the get help part. It is not exactly to a person that is asking for help through HelpBridge that you are giving help. Instead, you are given options to voluntarily work for some charities or donate money in favor of a charity.
Microsoft has partnered with a few charity intermediaries to bring you options to donate and volunteer. They include GuideStar and Mobile Giving Foundation (Text-to-give) which can help you donate small amounts like 5 or 10 dollars to a desired charity. Here are a few text messages that you can send to donate money. When you send these messages, the amount will be added to your monthly phone bill, and the money will be completely transferred to the respective charity.
Text “GIVEUSA” to 777444 for donating 10 dollars to World Vision. Text “RECOVERY” to 52000 to donate 10 dollars to United Way of NYC. More of such text messages will be available within the HelpBridge app. The complete list is available here.
In the same way, you can donate money through PayPal or goods through AidMatrix Supply Chain Management firm. All of these options are available directly from the ‘Give Help’ part of the app.
How to Get the App?
The app is available on your native app store, if you are not using Symbian or BlackBerry 10. The app currently supports only Windows Phone, Android, and Apple iOS, as a free download. Also, HelpBridge currently works within the US only.
Get the app here:
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps
Apple iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/helpbridge/id576543879?ls=1&mt=8
Windows Phone: http://windowsphone.com/s?appid=f57af950-e37e-403b-b71d-b8856fab2b15
Conclusion
This app is a very important one, and it is available for free. You don’t know when you really need this kind of an app, and that is the reason why you should have it on your phone.