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According to All Things D, T-Mobile USA is preparing to launch a new app and service that seeks to make driving safer for customers. The Drive Smart Plus app will manage the user's phone automatically in order to turn off many voice and SMS features. If a Bluetooth device is attached, the app can send calls there by default. SMS messages will be auto-replied to with a notice that the user is driving. The key here is the automatic part. Drive Smart Plus will turn itself on when it believes the user is driving.
The apps and service will be opt-in, and at first it will only be available on the LG Optimus T, but other phones are in the works. It will cost subscribers $4.99 per month for the Drive Safe Plus service, but a free Drive Plus Basic app will be available. The key difference is that users must manually activate the blocking features of the basic app.
The Drive Safe initiative is based on technology from Location Labs. We imagine it tracks GPS much as Google Latitude does, and takes note of acceleration on roads to switch on the app. That means GPS-related battery use, and another thing to run in the background. Will users want to deal with the possible issues, and fees? Let us know if you'd be in.
Comments are closed on this article
bathtbgin
January 19, 2011 at 7:46pm
So let me get this straight, they want me to pay extra for the privilege of letting them turn off features on my phone when they think I am driving? I think I'll save the $5 and continue to do what I normally do and ignore calls and text messages until after I am parked. Cell phones have this wonderful feature these days called voice mail, its all technical and new fangled but I hear it lets people know that you aren't available to take their call and even lets them tell you why they were calling in the first place.
I think I'm going to have to get the android and iphone SDK's because it is now clear to me that if you make an app some moron will pay money for it.
Ceadderman
January 19, 2011 at 6:43pm
Charge more for something that you should already be doing?
When I got a bluetooth capable phone I spent $80 more for an earwig. I rarely drive without it in the ear. One of the reasons is my state has strict Cell phone laws. You get a call you pull over. Though I have family members that text while driving which to me is the real issue. Before leaving it's not hard to set up an "on the road..." autotext. I'd rather tick a few people off(I don't text anyway) and stay safe than make everybody happy and either end up dead or worse, taking someone else out because I looked down at the wrong time.
If you're already spending the money on the gear, that $5 service charge is going to add up for something you're already supposed to be doing. Quit bein lazy about it and remember the life you save could be your own.
Asterixx
January 19, 2011 at 3:02pm
So if it uses GPS and all that stuff, how does it know you're a driver and not a passenger (or even on a bus)?
someuid
January 19, 2011 at 4:39pm
Sounds like a perfect reason to skip the $5 monthly charge (wtf for? is the best t-mobile's MBAs can think up?), go with the free version, and maintain control.
