Sprint is teaming up with Location Labs to tackle distracted driving. The carrier will offer the Sprint Drive First service to help its users manage their mobile devices and focus on driving while they’re behind the wheel. The new service will be launched in the third quarter with a price tag of $2 per month per device, surcharges and taxes excluded.
Using Sprint Drive First, subscribers will be able to:
- Lock the driver’s cell phone screen and redirect calls to voice mail.
- Block SMS alerts and auto-respond to the message sender that the driver is currently unavailable.
- Allow access to three key contacts and three mobile applications (i.e. GPS navigation).
- Give parents and business administrators web portal access to configure the service for their teens’ or employees’ mobile devices.
It’s fair to add that this isn’t the first time Sprint is addressing the issue. Since 2005, the company has advocated on the dangers of distracted driving and worked with schools, NGOs and product developers to combat texting while driving…