05 March 2012

“Amir” App helps pilgrims in their journey to Mecca

App Screenshot (Image: DASTAGEERI GMBH)

An innovative smartphone App was developed to help pilgrims in their spiritual journey.  Amir, the name given to the application software, can already be downloaded from the App Store and means “leader” in Arabic.

The App is intended to do much more than providing geographic orientation, as explains the software developer, Mr Habiburrahman Dastageeri : “It should indeed help the user both with the travel but also with the religious aspect”. 

“Amir” provides useful information to lead the users step by step, both before and during the pilgrimage. For example, it gives tips for the right clothes; a compass; a plan of pilgrimage sites, attractions and venues; or even audio files of the most important prayers. 

The content is the core of the App that is also useful in case of accidents, by providing Police, Firemen and doctor contact´s details. It was during a pilgrimage to Mecca that urged the need of such an App. Dastageeri  was travelling with his family back in 2006 and recalls the preparation as time consuming, but even more challenging to face temperatures around 50 degrees in the shade, as well as emotional distress in a foreign environment.

The App has been developed as a master thesis´ project during Dastageeri computer science studies at the Hochschule für Technik in Stuttgart. Initially it was foreseen a developing time of three to six months that became two years and a half at the end: “We had to become the experts, nonetheless the App had to be easier than a book”, reveals the developer.

The App is currently available in German, English and Turk from the App Store, but Dastageeri is working further. In the pipeline are an Arabic and Malay translations, an international market strategy and an Android version.

Source: Dastageeri GMBH
Download App here