Microsoft rolled out Gov2Social, a Web site where visitors can find state and local government officials using social media.  IT was built using Microsoft’s PaaS offering Windows Azure. This is a great example of how multiple governments can use the same cloud based application to provide information and/or services to several communities. 

Here’s what you can do on Gov2Social:

First, Gov2Social is a social media directory for state and local governments. Why is this important? I’ve mentioned a couple of scenarios above but more importantly we’re seeing a growing level of interest and adoption among state and local governments of Web 2.0 tools that support open and transparent government initiatives. However, we found a significant gap in how state and local governments and their citizens could connect online in a one-stop shop manner. With Gov2Social, state and local governments can share best practices, connect with peers, and learn how to implement social networking services – all of which help advance the usage of Gov 2.0 tools.

Second, Gov2Social is an online destination for citizens who wish to easily search and find social media properties related to their own state, city or county. As a result, the site makes it much easier to find agencies, individuals and elected officials online rather than searching multiple sites to locate information, which is a huge time saver.

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