T-Mobile Backs Application to Block Texts, Calls While Driving

Jan. 21, 2011— -- If you don't have the willpower to decline calls or texts when you're behind the wheel, T-Mobile now has a way to do it for you.

To stop cell phone users from driving dangerously, the company this week unveiled a new service that automatically disables most texting and calling features when a phone senses that it is in motion.

T-Mobile's service, DriveSmart Plus, is not the first smartphone application to attempt to block on-the-road calls and texts. But while other cell phone carriers say they are working on similar kinds of technology, T-Mobile's service is the first carrier-backed service to hit the market.

"We heard loud and clear from our customers that distracted driving is an issue they care deeply about. They want to help themselves drive responsibly, and they want to make sure their kids are doing the same. Distracted driving is an issue where T-Mobile, as a carrier, was uniquely positioned to step in and ease those friction points for our customers. We're helping to give them some peace of mind, " Torrie Dorrell, T-Mobile USA's vice president of applications, content and games, said in a statement. The $4.99 per month application, developed by Emeryville, Calif.-company Location Labs, will be available to T-Mobile customers with Android smartphones.

Location Labs' CEO Tasso Roumeliotis said that while other independent companies offer similar services, a major weakness in previous versions has been a lack of necessary battery power.

In order for the applications to work, they must use the cell phone's GPS technology, which can be incredibly battery intensive. Though Location Labs' technology also uses GPS, Roumeliotis said it's a patented approach that uses it more efficiently without draining a phone's battery power.

When activated, the DriveSmart application determines how quickly a phone is switching between cell phone towers. When it senses that the phone is moving faster than 10 mph, within a few minutes, it automatically sends phone calls to voicemail or a hands-free Bluetooth headset (depending on which version the customer selects). It sends text messages to a user's inbox.

Depending on the phone, the application can also disable audible alerts so that the driver isn't even aware of incoming messages.