The Association for Competitive Technology (ACT) today launched its ACT 4 Apps Initiative with broad support from mobile industry leaders including Apple, AT&T, BlackBerry, Facebook, Microsoft, PayPal and Verizon. ACT 4 Apps will educate app makers on issues including privacy and data security to promote continued industry growth through improved developer education.
ACT is widely recognized as the leading voice for developers in the $20 billion app industry. The ACT 4 Apps initiative bolsters this leadership role with support for ACT’s ongoing programs providing developers with resources, guidance, and best practices on app privacy and security. The initiative will also support ACT’s work educating consumers about app privacy controls, and promote the continued development of its highly acclaimed data transparency tools. Additionally, ACT 4 Apps will continue to engage the app developer community on issues important to the future of the industry.
As an association of developers for developers, ACT possesses the firsthand expertise necessary to meet the challenges app makers face. The ACT 4 Apps Initiative will educate app developers, providing the tools and resources necessary to meet privacy guidelines, build consumer trust, and grow their companies. ACT 4 Apps exists to simplify these steps so developers can concentrate on what they do best: making the next great app.
In 2013, the ACT 4 Apps Initiative will include:
App Developer Education & Bootcamps
ACT 4 Apps will conduct workshops and boot camps for app developers around the country to provide training and assistance on best practices for consumer privacy and identifying new market opportunities. The events often include presentations by leading entrepreneurs, senior government officials, and privacy experts. Events already scheduled for 2013 will take place at SXSW and the Renaissance iOS conference.
App Privacy Dashboard & Other Tools
Since 2011, ACT has been actively engaged with developers to design privacy-enhancing tools. ACT 4 Apps will support that work and continue development of the App Privacy Dashboard, a privacy disclosure platform optimized for mobile devices that provide consumers at-a-glance information about app data usage. This project is part of the NTIA multi-stakeholder process to create a new form of data transparency designed for small screens and mobile devices.
Bringing the Voice of App Innovators to Washington
ACT 4 Apps will assist app makers who want their voices heard in Washington, in statehouses across the country, and governments around the world. ACT will invite developers to travel to Washington and meet with Members of Congress, White House officials, and federal agency staff. Fly-in participants receive issue briefings, media training, and a customized app with location services to help navigate the halls of Congress while promoting collaboration and social networking.
App Industry Studies
ACT 4 Apps will support academic and market analyses that provide insight into the rapidly growing app industry. ACT has produced multiple studies demonstrating the app economy’s dramatic impact on job growth and the U.S. economy. These publications have been covered extensively by the media, featured in Congressional hearings, and have helped improve public understanding about the app industry’s economic benefits impacting the entire nation.
[...] like developer and consumer education to improve the mobile ecosystem. The introduction of the ACT 4 Apps Initiative will expand ACT’s efforts to raise developer awareness and engagement in app privacy [...]
[...] fact, ACT has launched a community-based initiative called ACT4Apps, which was designed to tackle these issues for the development community. We are currently setting [...]