The freak disappearance and subsequent death of a 21 year old Australian backpacker, Britt Lapthorne, has inspired a whole new application for iPhone, which has not only been critically acclaimed but has also made common iPhone users sit up and take notice. Unlike other iPhone apps that usually deal with upgrading the gadget to even better tweaks and fine-tuned features, the ‘I am Safe’ iPhone app, as named by developer Tim Hine from Melbourne, Australia, works as an emergency panic button – notifying five predetermined family, friends or colleagues of imminent danger or threat to the owner of the iPhone within seconds.

Tim Hine, who is responsible for marketing the new app through Xpertise Mobile, his new company, says that a few hundred copies of the app have already been sold to a consumer base that encompasses over 38 countries. It has been mainly targeted towards the female segment of the iPhone users as well as for the elderly people. The ‘I am Safe’ app does the following when solicited for use in an emergency situation:

  • Sends a prerecorded SMS message (pretty much an SOS) to 5 friends, family members of colleagues, who have been selected by the owner beforehand
  • Also sends an email message to the same lot
  • Sends across a prerecorded voice message, again to the same guys
  • Records the whole process and incident and saves it in the server for reference in consequent events or just for the record

But why is the app being called the real savior of the elderly or backpacking girls? The reason is the incorporation of a Google map that tracks the location of the owner. This way, not only can the victim of an accident or mugging be accessed immediately with the use of the ‘I am Safe’ app, the actual evidence and related elements can also be picked up from the exact location of the incident.

The only issue with the app is (as with any other cellphone application) you got to have ‘Signal’ when you solicit for help. The absence of this little element can pretty much render the app ineffective, but isn’t it the case with all applications in general, no matter how perfect they are?