After recent snowfalls and ensuing snow removal operations, users of the popular app, Info-Neige, were greeted by a surprise. “The City of Montreal is no longer providing financial support for the application,” a notice on the app reads. “As of this year, the app must operate entirely independently with zero funding from municipal or government sources.” After a short free trial period, those who want to use the app must pay a $4.99 fee for six months to keep up to date with snow-clearing operations, pothole locations and other info on the app. “Because we no longer have this backing to pay the bills, we have decided to introduce a subscription model to keep the app alive,” the notice reads. The City of Montreal began working with SideKick, which operates Info-Neige, in 2014, and the contract ended in April. The city decided not to renew the contract and develop its own app. Info-Neige is run by a small, independent Montreal team. In December, the city launched the 311 Montreal app. “The decision aims to simplify the citizen experience by integrating the snow removal status and the real-time snow removal map in the 311 Montreal application,” said City of Montreal spokesperson Guillaume Rivest. “We modernized our Application Montreal Services aux Citoyens to make sure that there’s a snow removal status, and also, where there’s available parking during snow-loading operations.” Rivest said that, since launching, over 67,000 users downloaded the app. “This app was developed to make life easier for residents,” said Rivest. “A single app for the city where you can track the snow removal operations, you can see the progression, but you can also report other problems, such as potholes.” Rivest said the city is inviting anyone using the app to report issues to the teams. Infoneige.ca, developed by Christophe Deprez, is also available using an online browser.
