Phones sold in the US by network operator AT&T will are beneficiaries of a new Drive Mode application which has been aimed at curbing the extremely unsafe practice of texting while driving. Available on both Android and iOS handsets, this software automatically recognizes that the person is driving and performs the needed functions.
Now for what it actually does; once it recognizes that you’re moving at 25mph or more it switches itself on and silences your text message alerts. It then automatically replies to your SMS or MMS messages with pre-loaded text, informing the sender that you can’t reply at that moment as you happen to be behind the wheel.
AT&T Drive Mode also directly sends incoming calls into voicemail. There are a couple of things that it’s not too strict about; it enables you to get your navigation information as well as listen to your music when it’s switched on. The main issue that remains is that it only works with SMS messages, and that’s not quite the usual mode of text-based communication these days, now with all those instant messaging apps out there.
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A similar service is being offered by Motorola as well in the form of Moto Assist. Available on all its modern devices, this app too automatically detects that you’re driving. However, instead of turning off your texts, it speaks out your incoming messages and lets you reply to them with your voice, without ever asking you to touch the handset.
Although the AT&T Drive Mode is available on the Google Play store and the Apple App store, it’s only compatible with devices sold by AT&T in the US.