Chart topping Kiwi App ‘Get Home Safe’ launches much-anticipated Android version

New Zealand start-up company ‘Get Home Safe’ today (Wednesday October 15) launched a much-anticipated Android version of the guardian angel App that raises a pre-set alarm if the user doesn’t get home safe.

Believed to be the first App of its kind outside the United Kingdom, Get Home Safe (GHS) is the brainchild of Kiwi entrepreneur Boyd Peacock.

The iPhone version of the App launched in New Zealand in August and received extensive international media attention and topped the country’s iPhone App download charts, hitting the number one spot on its first day of release.

The Get Home Safe App is a finalist in the 2013 New Zealand Innovator Awards in the category of Marketing and Communications. The winners’ ceremony will take place in Auckland on October 17 2013.

Get Home Safe founder Boyd Peacock said it was a “huge honour” to have the app named a finalist in the awards just two months after launching.

“Making the finals shows just how much of an exciting new product the Get Home Safe App is and what a great job Firebrand did in developing it.”

“The feedback and enquiry in such a short period of time has been huge, and it’s all been ‘when is the Android version coming’?” said Mr Peacock.

“I knew Get Home Safe filled a gap in the market but the enquiries we’ve had from people wanting to use GHS as individuals or for their business has been phenomenal. Now we’re on Android we can meet so much more of this demand.”

“A year ago it was a question of ‘if’ we’d need an Android version, now it seems you can’t call yourself an App without one,” he said.

“While we know Android phone ownership is high, traditionally their use of apps has been very low compared to iPhone users. The demand we’ve seen for Android over iPhone reflects the quickly changing world of Apps and the smartphone market.”

Since launch GHS has had enquiries from a number of large New Zealand organisations who want to make the use of GHS compulsory for staff undertaking work in remote locations or where there is perceived danger.

“We know of many people, clubs and organisations that are waiting for the Android version of GHS to be released and we’re really excited about being available free on both iPhone and Android.”

Get Home Safe will be progressively launched internationally, starting in Australia late October.

GHS is simple and easy to use and aimed at people from all walks of life undertaking everyday activities such as children walking home from school alone, women travelling home after a night out and people working unsupervised or in remote areas.

From today the free smartphone App for Android will be available to download via https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gethomesafe

“While we’re yet to hear of GHS saving a life, there’s been a number of reported examples since we launched where people not using GHS have been injured in accidents or gone missing and needed to call for help but haven’t been able to.

“Get Home Safe could have provided the perfect alert system in many of these instances, alerting someone that help was needed sooner, rather than later,” said Mr Peacock.

“This app has been designed to be so simple, quick, private and free to use. Already we’ve seen people using it as they go about their day-to-day business”.

“What we’re hearing is that people love the fact they can use GHS without fear of anyone knowing where they are or what they’re doing until they actually need help.

“It’s a guardian angel overseeing the activities in life where people may be self-conscious about sharing their plans, like going on a blind date for example, or when it’s an everyday thing to do and people simply don’t need to know what you’re up to,” he said.

“GHS is not your mother, your boss or big brother and it’s certainly not the police. GHS does not judge or ask probing questions”.

“Who knows you’ve gone for that run or bike ride? Who knows you’re walking home late at night from the pub or bus stop, or that you’re driving the back road home this time?

“Who knows where your secret fishing spot is? Who knows exactly where you are working this afternoon?  Who will know if you don’t get home safe?

“Every day there are examples of things not quite going to plan and even the best-made plans can encounter the unforeseen.

“GHS actually calls for help when you can’t, it’s incredible and it’s only a matter of time before it saves someone’s life,” said Mr Peacock.