DON'T TEXT AND DRIVE: PINGER ENCOURAGES VOICE MESSAGING AS A SAFER ALTERNATIVE TO TEXTING WHILE DRIVING



SAN JOSE, CA — June 12, 2007 — Pinger, Inc., a mobile voice messaging service, today announced their support for the National Safety Council's Driving Safety Week, June 11-15 by offering the company's instant voice messaging service as a safer alternative to driving while texting. By using Pinger, safety conscious drivers can send expressive voice messages rather than typing on tiny phone keypads. Listening to a Pinger message often takes only a single key press.


In the last decade, legislators, public safety officials and activists have attempted to shine a spotlight on the ever increasing danger of driving while texting

  • 80% of crashes involve some sort of driver distraction, the most common distraction is cell phones
  • A recent study conducted by Nationwide Mutual Insurance found that 19 percent (19%) of drivers text while behind the wheel
  • Younger drivers were even more likely to be texting when they should be watching the road
  • About 37 percent (37%) of drivers between the ages of 18 and 27 said they text message while driving.

In response to these alarming statistics, Pinger aims to educate the driving public on the use of the company's instant voice messaging service - which allows drivers to send instant messages using their voices without taking their hands off the steering wheel.


"People should avoid distractions while driving, but the reality is that we're all accustomed to constant communication via mobile phones," said Greg Woock, CEO of Pinger "Keeping your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel is easy with Pinger as opposed tapping out a text message."


National Safety Month is a good time to review safe driving practices. Pinger suggests the following tips all drivers should consider when on the road:

  • Plan ahead to avoid distractions and give driving your full attention
  • Place items you may need such as sunglasses, maps or cell phones, in easy to reach places
  • If there are passengers in the car, let them answer your phone and take a message for you
  • If you're expecting an important call, be sure to use a hands-free speakerphone or headset so you have use of both hands
  • Don't text and drive. Use a service such as Pinger that allows users to send instant voice messages, or "Pinger messages." You can also reply to or forward a Pinger message with minimal phone interaction

About Pinger

Pinger was founded on the vision that using your voice to message should be as fast, simple and convenient as email or text messaging. The patent pending Pinger service enables people, for the first time, to send instant voice messages to nearly anyone regardless of carrier or phone type. Founded in late 2005 by former Palm executives Greg Woock and Joe Sipher, Pinger has a proven management team who believes deeply in building simple products and services that just work. Located in San Jose, California, Pinger is privately held and currently recruiting smart people who like to create great products and have fun. For more information, visit www.pinger.com.


Pinger is a service mark of Pinger, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners.



Media Contact:
Pinger Press
(408)271-5731
press@pinger.com