It looks like the New York State has officially banned texting and driving. From now on you should definitely stop sending SMS messages while driving. If you happen to get caught you will pay a fine up to $150. Next time you text and drive in New York you’d better ask yourself if it’s worth doing it. Not because there is a fine but because texting and driving is actually more dangerous than driving under the influence. Other states have similar laws in place and we can assume that more will follow so start getting used to stopping the car if you absolutely need to answer some of those incoming messages.

via poughkeepsiejournal

Tags: driving, law, Mobile News, New York State, Portable Devices, texting

We reported to you late last month that the Senate was gearing up to introduce a national ban on texting while driving. Well it seems that Utah has beat them to the punch introducing their own law that would have offenders facing up to 15 years in prison.

In fact, Utah will now view texting while driving as a severe offense comparable to drunk driving.

Read (NYTimes)

Tags: Cell Phones, driving, law, Mobile News, Prison, texting, utah

It’s no secret that Apple and jailbreaking aren’t the best of friends, but this latest claim is a real hit below the belt.

According to Wired, Apple was quoted to have said that if the number of jailbroken phones increases it could lead to “potentially catasrophic” cyberattacks from such users. They even went on to say that all of these attacks could lead to a cell tower being rendered completely inoperable by jailbroken iPhone users.

This comes as news right after the Copyright Office had been considering legalizing the jailbreaking of phones. Come on Apple, play nice.

Tags: Apple, Apple, At&T, Cell Phones, cell tower, copyright office, iPhone, jailbreak, law, legal, Mobile News, Mobile Software, safety

Is Verizon trying to do good or is the carrier trying to look good? The carrier has apparently been working on an amendment to roaming agreement laws. In fact Verizon sent letters to various senators encouraging them to recommend that large carriers should be required by law to enter roaming contracts with smaller carriers in those areas where they don’t have any coverage. The contracts should have a minimum 2-year duration in order for the small carriers to be able to expand their own network.

Will we see a law regulating roaming agreements between carriers? Will that be actually beneficial to small carriers? We’ll just have to wait and see.

via Yahoo

Tags: Amendment, Carriers, law, Other Brands, Roaming, Verizon, Verizon Wireless

If you’re serving time for any reason, we’re not about to judge here, we advise you not to bring a cell phone in prison no matter how Prison-Break-like fun it looks like. Derrick Ross, a 38-year old three-time burglary felon has been caught with a mobile phone and sentenced for an additional 60 years. That means he’s going to be 98 when he’s going to be able to get a new cell phone of his own.

60 years seems a little extreme but prosecutor Allyson Mitchell said that the sentence should send a message to anyone else thinking about getting a cell phone in prison. Usual sentence is an extra 2 to 10 years but 60 years will do too. Oh and in case you’re reading these lines from somewhere behind bars then you should stop doing it. Now!

Tags: cell phone, Cell Phones, law, Mobile News, Prison

A bill introduced by Colorado Senator Claire Levy (D-Boulder) and Representative Bob Bacon (D-Fort Collins) on Monday if passed into law will prohibit teens, school bus operators, cab drivers and any other motor vehicle carrier regulated by the Public Utilities Commission from using a wireless phone while in motion. All other drivers would be allowed to use a cell and drive at the same time so long as they did so through a hands-free device like Blue-Tooth or a speaker phone.

The bill would make driving while talking on a cell phone a ‘Class A’ violation punishable by a fine of as much as $100. Several recent studies have shown that drivers who talk on their cell phones while driving are more likely to get into accidents than those who put their full attention on the road. The bill is likely to gain broad support but may die in the house before ever coming to a vote. Either way, this could be a good time to invest in that headset you’ve been wanting.

Tags: Business, Cell Phones, driving, Headsets, law