Government service providers and payments stand to benefit as much as consumer-facing industries from increased connectivity and technological advancement. Recently, for example, Idaho residents looking to make child support payments via mobile devices just got a boost in functionality.
The result of a partnership between the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare and Access Idaho, the administrator of Idaho’s official Web portal, the state’s online child support payment service is now optimized for mobile web access.
The revamped mobile web application reportedly meets international online accessibility requirements and is compatible with screen readers. Users are able to complete payments with credit or debit card via mobile as well as view payment history and their case summary.
The move makes sense. Mobile compatibility has become increasingly important for organizations with an online presence. The move comes as data cited by the organizations indicate some 58 percent of Idaho residents use mobile devices as their primary or only access to the internet.
But it’s not just Idaho.
Globally, mobile web access surpassed desktop use for the first time ever in October of last year, when mobile and tablet devices accounted for 51.3 percent of internet usage worldwide in October compared to 48.7 percent by desktop.
While desktop is still the primary mode of internet usage in mature markets, rapidly emerging markets like in India, Indonesia and China see a much higher percentage of mobile internet access.
In the case of Idaho, one of the least densely populated states in the U.S., mobile internet access might actually be the faster option for some.
As of last November, broadband internet had reached some 63 percent of rural residents in the U.S., according to the Pew Research Center, compared to 73 percent of people in cities. And while Idaho’s population has grown significantly in recent years, residents still largely live in rural areas.
So on the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare’s end, the move to optimize its child support payment for mobile is a necessary step to ensure connectivity to its services.