## Short text (3 sentences)

Ping! – The Family Button is an app for iPhone, Apple Watch and Android: one tap, and the
whole family knows you need them and where you are. Arwed Fischer
built it for his 96-year-old father. No subscription, no account, servers in
Germany.

## Long text (one paragraph)

Ping! – The Family Button connects a small, private family circle through one single big
button. Pressing it on an iPhone, an Apple Watch or an Android phone sends a reason you
chose yourself, such as "Please pick me up" or "I need help", together with your current
location to your own group. One family member taps "I'm coming", and everyone else
instantly sees that someone is on the way. Since version 2.0 you can belong to several
groups, such as family and neighbours, and everyone chooses on which days of the week
their phone may ring loudly. If nobody responds, it rings loudly after all. Ping! is
deliberately not an emergency service and not a medical alert system: it is made for the
many moments when you don't need paramedics, but your own family.

## The story

Arwed Fischer's father lives in his own flat in the same house as Fischer and his wife.
Whenever the two of them were away for a few days, he was on his own – and back then he
still drove himself. For days like that, Fischer wanted his father not to have to think
about whom to call in a moment of need. He couldn't find an app that did this, so he built
one himself. Today his father is 96 and no longer drives. He needs the button more
than ever: he wears Ping! on his Apple Watch. When he fell in the bathroom and couldn't get
up, his iPhone was in the bedroom – one tap on the watch was enough, and the family was able
to help him up quickly. The button has come to his aid three times now. When Fischer and
his wife are away, the ping goes to Fischer's son and daughter-in-law, who live in the same
town and come to help.

## Quote

> "I didn't want my father to have to think about whom to call. A single tap should be
> enough – and then he should know that someone is coming."
> — Arwed Fischer, developer of Ping!

> "I built Ping! for my father. Now I want to help as many families as possible who are
> in a similar situation to ours."
> — Arwed Fischer

## What makes Ping! different

- **One button, nothing to learn.** A big button and a short countdown that can be
  cancelled, so accidental presses don't go out; hold for 3 seconds to send discreetly.
- **"I'm coming" replies.** Whoever pings sees who is on the way.
- **From the wrist.** A full Apple Watch app that works without the iPhone nearby; plus
  widgets and controls on the iPhone.
- **Buy once, no subscription.** On iPhone with Family Sharing for up to six people.
- **Privacy first.** No sign-up with phone number or email; joining only by invitation
  code. Location is shared only during an active ping and deleted afterwards. No ads, no
  tracking, servers in Germany.
- **Built to be accessible.** VoiceOver, large tap targets, clear contrast.

## What Ping! is not

Ping! is not an emergency app, not a replacement for emergency services (112, 911, 999)
and not a monitored medical alert system. It helps you reach the people closest to you,
fast.

## Facts

| | |
|---|---|
| Name | Ping! – The Family Button |
| Platforms | iPhone, Apple Watch, Android |
| Current version | 2.1 (iOS), 2.0 (Android) |
| Available since | July 2026 (App Store), August 2026 (Google Play) |
| Price | €9.99 one-time purchase (local equivalent), no subscription |
| Languages | English, German, French, Spanish, Italian |
| Developer | Arwed Fischer, BLUE BOX – Productions, Germany |
| App Store | https://apps.apple.com/app/id6788020663 |
| Google Play | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.blueboxproductions.ping |
| Website | https://thefamilybutton.app |

## About the developer

Arwed Fischer, 67, runs BLUE BOX – Productions in Germany. He developed Ping! on
his own, originally just for his father. The app has been available to everyone since
July 2026. Today he wants to use it to help as many families as possible who are in a
similar situation.

## Images (captions)

1. **App icon** – Ping! – The Family Button
2. **Home screen** – One button for the whole family
3. **Active ping** – The family sees the reason and location and replies "I'm coming"
4. **Countdown** – A short countdown, cancel at any time
5. **Several groups** – Family, neighbours, friends behind one button
6. **When can you help?** – Everyone picks the days their phone rings loudly
7. **Apple Watch** – Ping! straight from the wrist

All images free for editorial use in connection with Ping!.

## Contact

Arwed Fischer
Email: ping@box51.de
