BAG Networks says more mobile apps in the pipeline

BAG NETWORKS is working on developing mobile applications to extend and enhance its existing products in the coming months.

Following the launch of its first mobile application e-Ja-wi last week, the IT system solutions provider is looking to create easy-to-use mobile applications which it plans to develop in-house or through third-party collaborations.

Speaking to the media last week, BAG Networks CEO Haslina Taib, revealed the company's plans to introduce more mobile apps in the future, with the first one to be unveiled next month.

"The challenge we are facing in Brunei in trying to influence technology is that they are always designed in such a complicated way, but in reality not everyone in the public sector are tech-savvy, so we need to continue to innovate to make them easy to use," said Haslina Taib.

Among the solutions developed by BAG Networks over the years include the Government Employee Management System (GEMS), the Treasury Accounting Financial Information System (Tafis) and Ikhlas, a web-based accounting solution for SMEs.

"We look at mobile apps as the main catalyst for us to think differently," she said.

Haslina cited collaborations with iCentre for the company's app development projects, as well as plans to bring mobile app development training for its staff.

"The good thing is that it can be done locally," she added.

The company yesterday launched a Jawi learning smartphone application which was aimed to promote Jawi literacy in Brunei.

The e-Ja-wi project is part of its eBunda iniatitive to nurture growth and development of people through e-learning.

Approved and verified by the Ministry of Religious Affairs' Islamic Dakwah Centre, the app was designed to address the concerns raised as to the prevalent various spelling methods and inconsistencies which may cause confusion amongst the users of Jawi.

The app's functionalities include Jawi with transliteration, jawi with pronounciation, as well as games to recognise the jawi characters and write the characters through the interaction with via touch screen technology.

"With a smartphone or tablet, the mobile applications modernises Jawi education in the community so as to facilitate the application of Jawi and at the same time being able to be accessed at anywhere, anytime so that time can be invested wisely for learning," said Haslina.

The app is a free download for smartphones running on Android 3.0 and higher, and will be available for the iOS platform by the end of the year.The Brunei Times