Today version 1.6 of the VolunteerRescue mobile app was released.  This update focuses on two new features that now add

• Options to start, monitor and respond to a call out
• An address book of member and contact phone and e-mail information

Phone call out

With the addition of phone call outs to the mobile app group administrators and task leaders can now start a call out either from the web site, by calling a central phone number or by using the mobile app; they can select the method they are most comfortable with and that their situation when assistance is requested dictates.

For groups that will not make use of the VolunteerRescue call out service because they already use an alternative system such as pagers or third party software the addition of the call out features to the mobile app will enable their members to send a response to a call out by the alternative system indicating whether they can attend along with additional notes without the need for the group to set up and configure a VolunteerRescue telephony account.  The responses can be viewed using the main Volunteer Rescue service or by using the mobile app if a computer is not available.

Options have been added to the member dashboard page as follows

• Send response to call out
  
  Members can use this option to send information indicating whether they are able to respond to the call out along with any notes such as how long it will take them to arrive.  This option is available to the groups' members whether the call out was started in Volunteer Rescue or an alternative system.
  
  
• Phone number priority
  
  Members can use this option to update the order in which their phones should be called and whether they would like a text message sent.
  
  
• Start new call out * ^{security options permitting *}
  
  Administrators, task leaders etc... can use this option to start a new call out.
  
  
• Recent call out ^{* security options permitting *}
  
  Administrators, task leaders etc... can use this option to view the progress of the call out along with the responses received from members.  This option is available whether the call out was started in Volunteer Rescue or an alternative system.
  
  When viewing full status information for an individual member this option displays the members phone numbers which if selected will link with the phones' dial screen simplifying dialing of a member should the task leader need to contact and speak with a member for additional information.

Address book

The groups administrators, task leaders etc... often need to contact members and third parties for information by phone.  All the phone number information is typically maintained in the main VolunteerRescue service but in the past it was necessary to export this information and then import into the contact list/address book of the phone but as the details change the contact information on the phone becomes out of date and a new export/import process or manual update of the details on the phone is required.

The groups administrators, task leaders etc... may not want the contact list in their personal phone to contain this information preferring to leave the contact list in their phone just for their own family, friends etc... information.

The address book feature of the VolunteerRescue mobile app will connect with a groups main VolunteerRescue service in real time and retrieve the latest contact information.  The mobile app will show all phone numbers and e-mail address, when a phone number or e-mail address is selected it will link with either the phones dial screen for calling the member or third party or the phones e-mail client to send an e-mail.

Options have been added to the member dashboard page as follows

• Member list
  
  List of members optionally filtered by role, the list includes an image to indicate if the member is currently available or not along with the members' status
  
  
• Contact list
  
  List of all third party contacts showing both the contacts name and company

Did you know ?

The mobile app is provided as a native app for iOS and Android devices available from the respective stores and is also available for HTML 5 compliant web browsers via a groups central VolunteerRescue service for all non iOS and Android mobile devices, desktop computer, laptop, notebook etc...