iZUP helps Thanksgiving travelers with state-by-state guide to texting, handheld bans

Photo from Oakley Originals; Posted to Flickr with Creative Commons License

An Oklahoma farm on Thanksgiving Day, Adair County, Oklahoma

I know this map looks incredibly similar to the one in the previous post, but it's completely different. This map is a Driving Guide to Thanksgiving Travel across the United States. It includes details on handheld and texting bans state-by-state.  (Click link to see it enlarged.)

It's from the folks at Illume Software, a pioneer in mobile safety solutions and developer of the iZUP app to prevent cell phone-related distractions.

iZUP is an intelligent, accurate GPS-enabled mobile app that is easy to download and even to use. It automatically launches when it detects that a cell phone is in a vehicle traveling over five miles per hour. The app sends incoming calls to voicemail and holds text and email messages until the vehicle stops and a driver can respond to them safely. iZUP also prevents outgoing calls, texts and emails while driving, yet always allows emergency calls to 9-1-1 and authorized numbers, such as a parent’s cell phone. Additional features include a tamper alert, 9-1-1 emergency map and password-protected passenger override. iZUP is available on a variety of Blackberry, Android and Windows Mobile handsets.

Did you know that 30 states currently enforce texting and driving bans? Ten ban handheld cell phone use altogether. Like it or not, the nation is mobilizing against distracted driving. Many people find that breaking the cell phone usage habit behind the wheel is really tough. Apps like iZUP can help. Check it out!

The folks at 911 ACOG wish you a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Are you a loser? Now, you can be alarmingly smart!

A cell phone loser that is. If so, a new device called the ZOMM, called alarmingly smart, may be able to help you.

Dispatcher Magazine Online reports that the ZOMM is a key fob device that sounds an alert when a cell phone goes out of Bluetooth range of the fob. The device also “rings” for incoming calls, and includes a pushbutton to automatically dial 911.

Specifically, when the panic button is pushed continuously, the ZOMM connects to your cellular phone via Bluetooth, dials 911, and then plays a pre-recorded message. At that point, the ZOMM’s speakerphone feature is activated so the user and 911 dispatcher can talk to each other. The company points out that the 911 is generated only after a continuous press of the panic button, and only after the audible panic alarm is activated briefly to alert the user a 911 will be placed.

Over the past few days, the ZOMM has been featured in numerous media outlets including The Today Show, but back in January it was featured on the popular site, Geek.com. The product seems to definitely be catching on.

Below is a video of one of ZOMM's commercials, which asks if you're a cell phone loser.

Follow the mom who came up with the idea for the Bluetooth gadget on Twitter @thezomm.