Perhaps a bit paranoid but definitely a step toward extreme prevention, AT&T is releasing a new app to discourage texting while driving. The new anti-texting technology will allow parents to remotely control their children’s cell phone service, cutting off their phones’ ability to text, browse the Web, or receive and make calls when they’re behind the wheel.
The app, slated for a September 19 release, gives parents the power to limit texting capabilities so teens cannot text while they are driving even if they wanted to. The app will also feature other safety precautions such as a GPS tracker to locate where the cellphone is located, and “Safety Violation Summary” with an alert system which will exts parents if their teens are driving at excessive speeds, making harsh accelerations, or performing dangerously sharp turns.
“Our goal is to save lives,” AT&T chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson said. “I hear from far too many people whose lives have been forever changed by a texting-while-driving accident, and together, we want to spread the word about how deadly a single text can be.”
It is unclear what platforms the apps will be available on but if its anything like previous AT&T apps, we expect it to be on at least iOS, Android, and Blackberry. Future models of AT&T phones may even have the app pre-installed and un-deleteable. AT&T advertises the new app for use in concurrence with its Drive Mode app, which will send an automatic reply to text senders that the recipient is currently driving and will get back to their messages at a safer time.
In addition to the new app, AT&T will launch “aggressive” social media campaigns on Facebook and Twitter, television and radio commercials, pamphlets to be distributed in high schools, and work with celebrity endorsers to reach its younger target audience. The company also aims to build an online driving simulator at ItCanWait.com so those at home and experience the dangers of texting while driving, along with life-size simulators set to hit approximately 200 locations across the nation.
“We’re challenging everyone to take the pledge to never text and drive and to make it a lifelong commitment,” Stephenson said. “And we’re challenging all device makers and app developers to offer devices that come pre-loaded with a no-text-and-drive technology solution.”
Extreme? Maybe, but it’s definitely better to be safe than sorry. Watch the video below to see snippets of the upcoming app.
TravelHalo is an app with similiar features and more. TravelHalo will be out sooner so look for it on your google play store very shortly
TravelHalo is an app that is similiar but with more features. The app will be out sooner and will be available on the Droid market. Please look for it soon on your google play
My kids love to play FlySmacker, Toy Store Delivery Truck, Singing City, Baby Tap & Learn and Guess Who Silly Shadows. Its incredible how helpful apps are becoming to their lives and learning.
This is a band aid. Not a solution. It’s like making their debit card not function if they try to make a transaction at McDonalds because the food is unsafe. What’s next? Disable their car if they are parked near a bar or night club?
This is a good thing. Young adults need to understand that driving a car is not a right, but a privilege. If they don’t like the idea then they can find another mode of transportation. Something tells me though when faced with that decision they’ll get over not being able to text pretty quickly.
Put me in the minority if I’m alone, but I don’t see this as extreme at all and something we’ve needed to have on our phones a long time ago. And while the evolution of hands free devices for our cars have gotten, it’s good to see AT&T working on something like this, especially with the drive tracking information in terms of speeding. That’s a great touch.
Then your kid gets into an accident and has no means of calling for help… I’m sure the app allows 911 calls, but still, sometimes kids call their parents first. If they are in a situation where they need to call you, and they end up bleeding out because they couldn’t call you… Yeah. I know the deal though. I am a witness to far too many teen deaths from texting or talking on phones. Hell, I’ll even ride along side of a car and roll my window down to yell at people who are texting on the highway. A flip of the lights usually makes them crap their pants. It’s a catch 22 situation… How to go about doing it is up to the individual.
I would most likely use this app. People who say otherwise, probably don’t have children.
Perhaps a good feature to the app would be to block service except for emergency contacts, including the 911 and the parents’?
Like I said, I’m sure there are things you can tweak with the system. I’m sure there will also be an accelerometer setting, that will unblock the service when the speed is under 5mph.
I get the feeling this app only works when the car is in operation. If the kid is in an accident, the phone would then be accessible after the car has been turned off.
one would hope, but the only way that would work is with an accelerometer detection…