Emailing Commuter Solution - iLane Hands-Free Smartphone Controller

By Editor Wireless and Mobile News on November 24, 2008 12:03 PM

Even though it is illegal in some states and very dangerous, commuters are continuing to check e-mail and text messages on the way to work says The Commuting and Staying Connected Study, conducted by Angus Reid Strategies for IMS Inc.

The study found that 32% of Americans and 23% of Canadians surveyed think that it is important to their work-life balance to have access to text-messaging, phone and e-mail while commuting.

People are feeling pressure from their employers. Roughly a quarter of Canadians (24%) and a fifth of Americans (21%) say they have missed an important e-mail or opted out of a call from work while commuting.

Some of them - particularly in the U.S. - faced repercussions. American bosses were more likely than their Canadian counterparts to react in a negative way to an employee missing a call while commuting (29% of Americans versus 17% of Canadians). At the same time, 18% of Americans and 8% of Canadians surveyed feel like they are letting down their employer or colleagues if they fail to answer work-related phone calls or emails.

Accessing mobile technology en route to the office is important for many simply because they like communicating and staying in touch with work, family or friends (53% of Americans; 48% of Canadians), they want to make better use of time (13% of Americans; 24% of Canadians), and they find it convenient (15% of Americans and Canadians).

"Whatever their reasons might be, this study shows that commuters are beginning to consider in-car connectivity a basic need," said Tony Cassetta, Chief Operating Officer, IMS. "These attitudes combined with increasing pressures to stay connected are not likely to disappear, so it's important for commuters to know that there is an alternative to accessing their devices while on the road."

A solution is now available called iLane, the first in-car device that interacts directly with your smartphone and lets you manage your inbox using simple voice commands. iLane is a portable smartphone-compatible device that can ride inside commuters' vehicles, allowing them to control their smartphone entirely hands-free. iLane reads e-mails to the user out loud, on command, and it allows for access and control of other smartphone applications by voice command, including managing phone calls, SMS messages and calendars.

As an added feature, iLane provides daily news, sports, and weather updates on-demand from The Associated Press and The Weather Network, ensuring that commuters are not only connected to the office but are also well-informed about what is happening in the world around them.

iLane provides secure data exchange with the user's smartphone to keep private information localized in the vehicle, with no need for an external server connection. It also allows users to make and receive phone calls using a simple voice command, without taking their hands off the wheel or their eyes off the road.

This may address the concerns of respondents who cited safety concerns as a reason not to use mobile technology during their drive to work. More than one third (37% of Americans and 35% of Canadians) cited this.

"There are people with long commute times who feel that being connected to the office while on the road is a priority," said Mr. Cassetta. "iLane is an alternative choice that enables you to drive with both hands on the wheel, allowing you to pay attention to what's happening on the road instead of on your mobile screen."

Pricing and Availability

iLane(TM) is available in North America now at a suggested retail price of $599.00, plus $7.99 per month. It can be purchased at www.ilane.com.