USA.gov relaunch includes mobile app store

The Obama administration relaunched the USA.gov website, introducing 18 free mobile applications spanning a host of federal bureaus and initiatives. According to the White House, the USA.gov redesign promises a less bureaucratic approach than in the past, mirroring how private sector websites function, including a search bar powered by Microsoft's Bing technology--the site remains a resource for information on taxes, school loans, consumer protection and other subjects impacting the American population. ""Across the past couple of decades, the private sector has made great gains in productivity and customer service," the White House's Office of Management and Budget deputy director Jeffrey Zients tells CNN.com. "The Federal Government has largely missed out on these gains as it has failed to harness the power of new technologies. Closing this technology gap between the Federal Government and the private sector is key to saving taxpayer dollars and making government services faster, easier and more responsive."

Most of the new mobile applications featured in the USA.gov store are optimized for device browsers, although some target specific smartphone platforms like Apple's iPhone. Apps include FBI's Most Wanted (which encompasses information on criminals and terrorists as well as updates on missing children), Alternative Fuel Locator, Product Recalls, U.S. Postal Service Tools and UV Index.

For more on the USA.gov app store:
- read this CNN.com article