The UK Government this week revealed its annual spend on iPhone apps, a figure that has outraged many in light of the severe budget cuts across the country. The numbers, revealed by the BBC through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, reflect the iPhone’s enormous uptake across all types of people and the ease with which it has integrated into their daily activities.

Slapped with the FOI, the Centre of Information (COI) was forced to reveal that a wide range of iPhone apps had been developed at costs ranging between £10,00 and £40,000. In 2009-2010, the government spend on website development and running costs clocked in at £94 million, with an additional £32 million on web staff. In light of these significant figures and the exceptional budget deficit, the COI has announced it will conduct a review of all 820 of its websites. The Cabinet Office stated that the government is to freeze all marketing and advertising spend for this year, including the iPhone applications. There is opposition dismay too that the mobile phone apps developed will not be compatible with the iPhone 4′s new operating system, iOS4.

Future spend is planned but subject to strict controls and only for essential activities. The implication is that the public will no longer get helpful mobile phone programmes such as the NHS Quit Smoking app and the NHS Drink Tracker. The planned DVLA Motoring Masterclass that was to work out fuel mileage, track RAC patrols, act as a hazard light and guide users through activities like changing tires will no longer go ahead.

Perhaps this can be taken as a simple example of the challenges the UK government faces in managing its precarious economy. The Conservative approach to reign in a large and inappropriate spending on non-essential iPhone gimmicks is common sense. Yet one can’t help but feel that a knee-jerk reaction will be sharply felt by those web staff on the receiving end of £32 million. Labour has also expressed concern that cuts in spending halt progress. Given the staggering uptake of the iPhone 4 and the increasing integration of technology and the web into daily life, a cautious step away from technological development may be a step backwards in the long term.