Gem Barrett and Ray Braithwaite, launching the CalmCall app. Picture by Laura Holme.
BUSINESS GEM Barrett is thought to be the Isle of Wight’s first female developer to release an 'app’ for sale in Apple’s app store.
Gem runs design and development company Squeaky Clean Creations and has developed CalmCall, an app which provides advice and audio examples for managing aggressive telephone behaviour.
Gem, 25, from Ryde, said: "Having worked in telesales while I was at university, I know how valuable this advice can be to someone dealing with an aggressive customer.
"To be involved in such a project is wonderful and being the first female on the Island to create and sell an iOS app is a very proud moment.
"I hope this inspires other Islanders to learn app development, especially potential females developers as programming is one of the least gender-equal jobs."
CalmCall is the brainchild of Ray Braithwaite, a trainer and author based at Newchurch, who specialises in methods of managing aggression.
He said: "CalmCall was designed to help telephonists, call centre staff, receptionists and other workers who may experience difficult telephone conversations."
Ray added: "Gem attends the same weekly business breakfast club as my wife and had just completed an app development course, so we got together and CalmCall came into being."
Plans are already in the pipeline to release the app on other smartphone platforms, such as Blackberry, Android and Windows Phone.
To download the app, see www.itunes.com/apps/calmcall and, to mark its launch, ten promotion codes have been made available for readers to get a free download.
To apply, e-mail calmcallpromo@gmail.com
Reporter: martinn@iwcpmail.co.uk