TelcoBridges Hardware Platform Supports DriveAssist Mobile Call Management System

TelcoBridges (News - Alert) has announced that the new DriveAssist mobile call management system is supported by TelcoBridge’s hardware platform. Aegis Mobility and Nationwide Insurance recently announced DriveAssist availability to make mobile connections safer while on the go.

DriveAssist is a network integrated software application that is designed to detect when a mobile phone user is driving. It provides a set of user-defined options for managing incoming and outgoing calls, text messages and Internet access, much like a personal assistant.

"Cutting-edge solutions like DriveAssist illustrate a new era in mobile value-added services, and we're thrilled to help Aegis Mobility and Nationwide Insurance bring this technology to market," said Gaetan Campeau (News - Alert), President and CEO of TelcoBridges, in a Monday statement.

"Solutions providers and operators looking to deploy services to a large user base are turning to TelcoBridges in increasing numbers - because we can provide the carrier-grade reliability and scalability needed to ensure that their innovative applications work flawlessly, anywhere and all the time."

By using all sensors in the phone, including GPS, WiFi (News - Alert), baseband cellular, accelerometers and proprietary technology created by Aegis Mobility, DriveAssist can detect motion in a manner that distinguishes between walking and driving.

While in motion, DriveAssist manages mobile phone use according to policies defined by the users. These policies can be set up through a Web-based policy manager, which will not restrict E911 connections or other designated emergency/priority calls.

"DriveAssist demands carrier grade equipment that will scale to tens-of-millions of subscribers, while providing 'five-nines' reliability - so we're running it on TelcoBridges' hardware - to ensure the capacity and the coast-to-coast availability we need to support our user base," said David Hattey (News - Alert), CEO of Aegis Mobility, in the Monday statement.

"Their hardware and software have exceeded our expectations and TelcoBridges has been a tremendous partner to Aegis."

TelcoBridges works to connect DriveAssist to the mobile carrier’s switching center through high-availability SS7 links. The company is providing the IVR capabilities necessary to store content and playback voice prompts on thousands of channels at the same time.

These capabilities establish the foundation of DriveAssist’s “personal assistant” functionality, which manages incoming calls and text messages while users are driving. Such a features makes it easier for the user to access messages once he or she has stopped driving and can safely use their mobile phone.

According to a recent National Highway Transportation Safety Association (NHTSA) study, more than 80 percent of motor vehicle crashes and near-crashes result from driver inattention. A Harris Poll study found that more than 75 percent of respondents support legislation limiting cell phone use while driving.

There are currently 17 states that ban cell phone use while driving and every remaining state is considering similar measures. DriveAssist is designed to address the issues that can arise when drivers get distracted by their phones while out on the road.

DriveAssist provides a tremendous benefit to the mobile consumer as it delivers peace of mind. The user can feel confident that his or her calls are properly managed when necessary, allowing for more relaxed and less distracted driving. Such capability can lead to a safer approach to communication management while on the go.