New iPhone app aims to protect people from attack

You’re walking alone on a dark night when suddenly someone
scary approaches. What do you do? A Seattle company
says its new iPhone app can go a long way in helping
prevent a possible attack before it happens.

iWitness records audio and video and sends it to a secure
server every three seconds. With a single click it
will notify 911 and friends and family on your trusted
contact list. It can also sound an audible alarm.

“When we talked to people, especially women, it was
amazing how much fear for their personal safety they felt
on a daily basis,” says Dave Remer, founder of iWitness.

Remer says while he realizes nothing can completely stop
crime from happening, the app can be a strong deterrent if
a potential attacker thinks there is a possibility of
being recorded or reported.

“We know that far fewer crimes occur when there’s a
visible witness. In fact it’s the one thing that criminals
fear most and try to avoid.”

While some would argue pepper spray or a weapon are better
deterrents, Remer argues bad guys are often able to take
guns, tasers and the like from their victims, and use them
to escalate their crime, while the app instantly sends its
audio and video to authorities.

Remer credits enhanced 911 systems for enabling the
technology that allows for instant notification. He says
while the app is only available now for iPhone, the
company is also developing Android and Windows Phone
versions as well.

iWitness charges $3.99 a month for the service or $2.50
per month with an annual subscription.

Remer predicts the app will be a strong seller, with many
women buying it as well as fathers, husbands and
boyfriends.

“You know, I have a daughter, a wife and granddaughter.
I’m going to be pretty bull headed about making sure the
women in my life are protected. I’m not going to wait for
them to find it and make that purchase decision. So I
think we have two distinct audiences.”