BIRMINGHAM.- Smartphone users have a new reason to connect with the Birmingham Museum of Art – a new mobile site, designed to make access to important information about the institution easily available in an-easy to read, user-friendly way.

The mobile site launched officially Dec. 1, and can be accessed on iPhones, or other smart phones running versions of Google’s Android operating system. Type www.artsbma.org into your smart phone browser, the same address used to access the BMA’s content rich website on a computer. Or type the actual mobile address – m.artsbma.org. Mobile site users will immediately see the simplified menu interface of the BMA page, and have access to streamlined content offering directions, visitor information, details about exhibitions, facts about the collection, events, and much more.

Content on the site comes directly from BMA’s website, and is refreshed regularly. The site is complete, but don’t expect it to remain static. Like the Museum itself, the new mobile site will grow with the collection and to meet future visitor needs.

You can save the mobile site to your smartphone home screen, allowing it to be accessed the same way you would access an app, the mobile applications that add functionality to your phone.

Users of the mobile site also have access to BMA’s Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr sites – as well as the full content of the BMA website through an option at the bottom of the page.

The new mobile site was developed by BMA’s web team working in conjunction with Kinetic Communications, a local software firm.

“We are very excited to add this technology which makes the Museum even more accessible to more people. It’s another advancement, another way for our visitors to easily engage our growing collection,” said BMA Director Gail Andrews. “You can use the mobile site when you’re away, but it also provides useful information while you’re visiting. We expect it to enhance the experience for many of our visitors.”