Availability of Nearby Explorer outside of United States

By Snelspoor, 19 December, 2016

Forum
iOS and iPadOS

Dear All

Unlike almost all apps discussed here, Nearby Explorer is not available in the South African app store.

I have written to the American Printing House for the Blind to ask them to make it available in the South African app store. We have pretty detailed FourSquare and Google maps here, so it should work well. I have received no response from them. I will write again.

Do people in other parts of the world have access to the app? If not, then i'd advise people against voting for the American Printing House for the Blind in the apple vis awards. A great app is of limited use if most of the world's blind people can't access it.

thanks
s

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Comments

By Lysette Chaproniere on Monday, December 26, 2016 - 11:41

It only works in the U.S. And Canada. From what I've read, I believe it uses its own maps, which are downloaded to the device with the app. I'd like to give it a try, but I'm in the UK.

By Kelly Pierce on Monday, December 26, 2016 - 11:41

It is likely the issue is with licensing. The big digital map companies license certain regions, such as North America. Adding more regions costs additional fees. South Africa has fewer than five million English speakers, making south Africa a really small market. Another issue is that APH is funded by the United States government along with American donors. Naturally, its focus is on North America not international. An in-country sponsor would likely foster development in a particular region, such as the RNIB with the Sendero iPhone app.

By techluver on Monday, December 26, 2016 - 11:41

Maybe see if SANCB and APH would work together? I'm not south African, but I am Afrikaans speaking so am relatively familiar with certain aspects of things there.