Putting the Brakes on Texting While Driving - Wireless Zone Adds Textecution to All Applicable Cellular Devises, Application Disables Texts, Email, Web
At the turn of the New Year, Illinois, New Hampshire and Oregon added its names to the growing list of states that have banned texting while driving. Those who text while driving are 22 times more likely to get into a car accident—a staggering statistic that has influenced political powers and a national retailer to take a stand.
Wireless Zone, the largest Verizon Wireless retail franchise in the U.S., has announced it will place an application called Textecution on all compatible phones that prevents texting while driving at no cost to its customers.
"Wireless Zone has always been committed to cell phone safety," said Mark Asnes, COO and Executive Vice President of Wireless Zone®. In addition, "our stores have provided hundreds of thousands of free hands-free devices to anyone with a cell phone - whether or not they purchased the phone from us. The challenge today is people text more than they talk; and driving while texting is a danger for everyone on the road. We knew we had to do something."
Textecution runs on Android phones and uses the onboard GPS to know how fast the phone is moving. If it detects the phone traveling at 10 miles per hour or more, Textecution disables the texting, email and web browsing functions of the phone.
"We see the application primarily as a tool for parents to install on their teenage driver's phone so they know their child is safer behind the wheel of the vehicle. However, the program is also ideal for companies to install on its employees cell phones," Asnes said.
Textecution’s founder, Jonathon Young, wanted to connect with a national brand to distribute this program. With its consistent dedication to cell phone safety as well as having more than 400 locations nationwide, he found Wireless Zone to be the ideal match.
"As a loving and protective parent, my children were the inspiration," Young said. "I felt the temptation to text while driving was simply too great, and I was determined to prevent it. The idea was truly an epiphany that I hope prevents many needless tragedies and keeps all of our kids and loved ones safer on the road."
ABOUT WIRELESS ZONE
Founded in 1988 as "The Car Phone Store", Wireless Zone has become the nation's largest premium wireless retail franchisor and was ranked the No. 1 franchise in its category by Entrepreneur magazine.