Close on the heels of Cityspace announcing the launch of iPal, the cheerfully coloured terminal offering interactive services to parents and children, Gateshead Council has ordered two indoor units for two of their Children’s Centres.

In Newcastle existing iPlus Points in two children’s centres in the city are being rebranded with the iPal identity and Newcastle City Council has worked closely with Cityspace to develop services and information of real value to the parents and families who use them.

Design of the customised content is underway, which will bring together a raft of valuable services to both parents and children through an easy-to-use interactive touch screen terminal. Content will include: child care services, access to the children’s services directory, jobs, Connexions Tyne & Wear, parenting support and advice and Council information, to name a few.

Early adopters of interactive public services, both Gateshead and Newcastle have long-established iPlus Networks of 12 and nine terminals respectively and see a real opportunity in deploying iPal Points to support the ‘Every Child Matters’ agenda.