The Government Digital Service has awarded two contracts to small companies providing SMS services to work on the GOV.UK Notify platform.
Firetext Communications and MMG Mobile Marketing Group have won the year-long deals, valued at £800,000 each, to provide services supporting public authorities in using the messaging platform.
The contracts, awarded under the IT services category, became live earlier this month are due to run until 17 January next year.
Notify is a multi-channel communications platform that public authorities can use to send text messages, emails and letters to update the public on service status, requests for action, receipts of applications and reminders.
It is currently used by 164 organisations to support 553 services. It is notable that, in contrast to the GOV.UK Verify service, it has been picked up by a range of public bodies beyond central government. These include a number of local authorities, six months after the service was opened up to local government.
Image from the Cabinet Office, Open Government Licence v3.0
