Ask around and you are sure to note that texting while driving is a prime reason for the growing number of car accidents we are hearing today. But thanks to innovation and the iPhone, an app has put its foot down on 25 million potential texting while driving incidents, something that mobile phone-crazy consumers are bound to laud. And the app that deserves that credit is the DriveSafe.ly app for the iPhone which incidentally comes free at the developer’s website.

The app reads messages and emails in real-time without any action on the part of the user. The latest version comes with an automated feature called the Speed Activated feature which turns on when driving and off when you exit your car. Check out the FAQ video demo below.

(Source) Press

Tags: Apple, car accidents, car check, Cell Phones, consumers, drivesafe, Innovation, iPhone, iPhone, mobile phone, Mobile Software, prime reason, real time, texting, video demo, woes

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

Here is a cost-friendly solution for the people looking at great deals for their mobile communication needs. VoxOx by TelCentris has announced their special monthly unlimited plans for making calls and two-way texting for an introductory domestic (U.S. and Canada) offer of $2.45 a month. The rates offered by VoxOx is 15% lower than what Skype is offering to its customers and for the people who avail of this special plan will enjoy an ongoing subscription at a highly discounted rate. Domestic and worldwide plan options are also available and should be the solution for people who are heavy mobile phone users (voice and text).

(Source) Press

Tags: Business, Canada, Cell Phones, great deals, mobile communication, Mobile News, mobile phone users, plan options, text source, texting, worldwide plan

The combination of texting while driving translates into disaster 90% of the time. And while people are trying their darn best to keep their attention on the roads, some drivers are just hard headed and have a hard time avoiding calling or texting while driving. But now, a new app may change all that. The app is called TXTBlocker which disables certain phone functions that should help address this issue.

It works in hand with GPS technology, determining the movement if a person is driving. The service, which costs $9.99 per month, is activated from thereon. There is also an initial setup fee of $24.99 which includes the first month subscription. You can check out the software and service here.

(Source) Gizmag

Tags: Cell Phones, hard time, initial setup fee, Mobile News, phone functions, text messaging, texting

AT&T likes to be considered a socially responsible company, and that is probably the reason why they are planning to launch a big campaign related to SMS texting and driving at the same time, which we all know is not good for your health and can be a disaster if you don’t pay attention. Anyhow, Randall Stephenson CEO of AT&T announced today what is the intended goal:

“Our goal is to send a simple, yet vital, message to all wireless users: don’t text and drive.”

The campaign will include some of the following topics:
- employee education, to prohibit the act of sending a text message while driving;
- defensive driving classes for employees that must do some driving while on the job;
- launching AT&T cellphones with a message like “don’t-text-and-drive”;
- public service announcements with famous people;
- online resources;

Tags: At&T, At&T, driving, texting

Pocket Communications announces the availability of a new line up of affordable smartphones suited for prepaid mobile phone users. The new crop of phones offer practically the same features we hear from high-end phones today which include a camera, music players, Internet access and the usual texting and email capabilities all for $99.

Among the phones that Pocket Communications will be offering are the following:

• Smart TXT
• Motorola Hint
• Motorola Q
• Samsung Freeform

(Source) Press

Tags: capabilities, Cell Phones, email, Freeform, internet access, Mobile News, mobile phone users, Motorola, Motorola, motorola q, music players, new smartphones, prepaid mobile phone, Samsung, Samsung, 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

Everyone hates traffic jams. But while we can always check the news, here is something that iPhone owners can turn to especially if they are in a hurry or always on the go. The new app is TrafficTweet for the iPhone from Mobomo, an app that provides people an easier way of knowing real-time traffic conditions in any U.S. city. The TrafficTweet app relies heavily on public Twitter feeds from the Twitter community.

Features:

• Leverages iPhone 3.0 OS Maps API to directly embed Google Maps into the application, providing a quick snapshot of all traffic alerts on nearby highways and roads.
• Leverages Twitter Platform so drivers using TrafficTweet can report current road conditions (traffic accidents, lane closures, speed traps and other alerts) to others via Twitter on an interactive map. App users can use color-coded icons to provide the driver with instant feedback.
• One-Click Driver Reporting eliminates need for onerous driver texting as it takes just one click to report speed and two clicks to report a traffic incident.
• Powerful Search Function embedded in TrafficTweet app allows users to quickly search for traffic conditions anywhere in the world.

The TrafficTwitter app for the iPhone is now available for download at the Apple iTunes App Store for only $0.99.

(Source) Press

Tags: Apple, apple itunes, community features, Google, google maps, highways, hurry, interactive map, iPhone, iPhone, lane closures, Mobile Software, os maps, road conditions, search function, speed traps, texting, time traffic, traffic accidents, traffic conditions, traffic incident, traffic jams, twitter

It seems that just yesterday the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute did a study that showed texting while driving will give you a 23x greater risk of getting into a crash.

Today, reports suggest that a group of Democrats have banded together to introduce legislation that would effectively ban texting while driving throughout the United States.

While this may be of annoyance to those who love to text, it’s probably for the best considering the risks associated with it.

via PhoneScoop

Tags: Cell Phones, driving, legislation, Mobile News, safety, Study, texting

It seems that a 15 year old girl by the name of Alexa Longueira was minding her own business walking down the street texting without looking infront of her. While looking down at her phone she couldn’t see the open manhole that she then proceeded to fall into.

Despite her only scraping her back and shoulders, she remained physically unharmed. However, her mother told officials that she was mentally harmed as the sewer was ‘putrid’ and the fact that she lost a shoe while down there. This has lead the family to announce they will sue due to the incident.

I can just see it now, a new law being passed that prohibits youths from texting while walking. Then again, this is no ones fault other than the teenagers.

Read (MSNBC) via Gizmodo

Tags: Mobile News, new york, staten island, teenager, texting

Text messaging has come a long way from just sending a simple text message to one or group of friends today. It has evolved into a powerful from of mass media where the billions of text messages being sent around the world has caught everyone in a maze of private and commercial messaging frenzy. More so, it is apparent that mobile phone subscribers are clamoring for better cell phone plans, ranging from unlimited texting to cost-efficient plans. And a lot of local service providers have done so but the public is still asking for more.

According to statistics compiled by the Messaging and Mobile Media Division of VeriSign, Inc., mobile messaging continues to shatter records with nearly 84 billion messages were delivered throughout the first quarter of 2009.

These records can be considered modest. For one, they only cover a certain area of concern. But if you put the whole world together, you may see tons of people wanting better mobile phone plans either for personal use or business-related intent. And for mobile providers, they only intend to provide more as they conceptualize client-enticing mobile plans that will certainly be awaited by consumers in the market today.

(Source) Press

Tags: billions, cell phone, Cell Phones, local service, mass media, maze, mobile media, mobile messaging, Mobile News, mobile phone subscribers, mobile plans, mobile providers, personal use, service providers, text message, text messages, text messaging, texting, verisign, verisign inc

After careful study on how iPhones are handled, Belkin announces the launch of new casings for the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G. Coming in latest color trends known today, these new casings were designed according to the handling of an iPhone owner. The new collection of Belkin cases include an elegantly designed leather case, silicone cases and a sport armband.

Also, there is the Grip Ergo case which features contoured ridges on the silicone, making it more comfortable for iPhone owners when it comes to playing games or texting with their device.

All of these new cases are available in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. BodyGuard cases will be available by mid-July.

Pricing and Models:

Grip Cases

• Grip Ergo (F8Z460) - $29.99
• Grip Two-Toned Vector (F8Z474) - $29.99
• Grip Vector Duo (F8Z472) - $19.99

Bodyguard Cases

• BodyGuard Hue (F8Z455) - $24.99
• BodyGuard Halo (F8Z461) - $29.99
• BodyGuard Cush (F8Z470) - $29.99
• Micra Flex (F8Z469) - $24.99

Leather Cases

• Leather Sleeve with Pull Tab (F8Z465) - $29.99
• Leather Sleeve with Clip (F8Z467) - $29.99
• Leather Folio (F8Z462) - $29.99
• Leather Horizontal Holster (F8Z463) - $29.99
• Leather Slim Fit with Pull Tab (F8Z466) - $29.99
• Formed Horizontal Holster (F8Z464) - $29.99
• DualFit (F8Z459) - $29.99

(Source) Press

Tags: 3G, 3gs, Accessories, bodyguard, careful study, casings, Cell Phones, color trends, europe asia, holster, hue, iPhone, iPhone, launch, leather case, leather cases, leather folio, leather sleeve, north america europe, playing games, silicone, slim fit, texting

Predictive texting is a feature that has made life easier for people who are fond of sending text messages in a hurry. While spelling may not be an issue for some when it comes to common day language, the need to be sure that accuracy for proper noun words like actual real names or places can really help a lot in speeding up the text composition phase.

Today, most phones carry the said predictive text messaging assistance and LG Electronics for its part isn’t taking any chances. LG and Nuance Communications have extended their relationship in integrating the T9 and XT9 predictive text input towards its line of mobile phones, making sure that their patrons don’t complain about the hardships of composing a simple text message.

“It’s not just about voice calls on phones today – being able to simply and intuitively send emails and text messages is just as important, which is why many of the world’s leading handset manufacturers rely on our T9 predictive text portfolio,” said Michael Thompson, senior vice president and general manager, Nuance Mobile. “LG has some of the hottest devices on the market and by leveraging T9 and XT9, users around the world will continue to leverage the power that our combined innovation delivers for texting and emailing – or any other text input command.”

(Source) Press

Tags: emailing, handset manufacturers, input command, LG, lg-electronics, Mobile Software, nuance communications, patrons, predictive text input, sending text messages, t9 predictive text, text message, text messaging, texting

Samsung Electronics has unveiled a new mobile flip phone in the Samsung Gloss (SCH-u440). The compact flip design makes it a preference and a sure hit among people who put preference in fashion and functionality today.

The Samsung Gloss is available in either pink or charcoal color and comes equipped with stereo Bluetooth for easier communication. Among its other notable features include:

• 1.3 megapixel camera
• Music player
• 16 GB of external memory for photos, music and videos
• Full QWERTY Keyboard
• Stereo Bluetooth Enabled
• 1.3 Megapixel Camera
• Music Player
• easyedgeSM Service
• Dimensions: 2.55”x 2.94” x .82”
• 2.2” QCIF 262K TFT (Landscape)

“Customers are looking for more out of their cell phones every day,” said Alan D. Ferber, Chief Marketing Officer at U.S. Cellular. “The Samsung Gloss offers a full QWERTY keyboard for easy texting as well as a built in camera and music player to make this phone a unique all-in-one device.

The Samsung Gloss is available at U.S. Cellular retail locations or at www.uscellular.com.

(Source) Press

Tags: bluetooth, charcoal, charcoal color, chief marketing, external memory, ferber, flip phone, full qwerty keyboard, landscape, megapixel camera, music player, photos music, preference, Samsung, samsung electronics, Samsung u440, service dimensions, texting, u s cellular

By now we have all heard of Virgin Mobile’s $49.99/month voice only plan but apparently Boost Mobile’s flat rate plan of $50.00 seems better. Of course this would depend on which you spend a lot on, voice calls or texting.

Apparently, while the Virgin Mobile plan covers calls, it does not include text messaging which if totaled could become more expensive once you monthly bill comes along.

Compared to Boost Mobile’s plan, they offer unlimited nationwide talk, text and multimedia messaging, wireless Web access and nationwide Walkie-Talkie that reaches more than 274 million people in more than 15,800 cities across the U.S. for an all-inclusive price of $50/month.

While the Virgin Mobile plan includes unlimited talk, those looking to send text messages will need to pay an additional $10 per month. Research shows that text messaging is on the rise, closing in on mobile phone calls as consumers’ communication of choice.

According to CTIA (Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association), text messaging traffic grew to more than 75 billion messages per month in the United States in 2008, up from 7.2 billion per month in 2005.

In addition to saving consumers more than $200 per year, Boost Mobile’s plan, unlike Virgin Mobile’s plan, offers consumers picture messaging, text messaging, Web access and the popular Walkie-Talkie feature. Boost Mobile offers the fastest national “push-to-talk” network available in the prepaid industry. More than 90 percent of Boost iDEN customers surveyed say they use nationwide Boost Walkie-Talkie, and 70 percent of those customers use the service daily.

(Source) Press

Tags: Boost Mobile, Business, Cell Phones, cellular telecommunications industry association, consumers, flat rate plan, mobile phone service, mobile plan, multimedia messaging, phone calls, text messages, text messaging, texting, traffic, Virgin Mobile, Virgin Mobile, voice calls, Walkie Talkie, web access, wireless web