BOULDER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Katasi, a Colorado-based company that has developed the first network-based distracted driving prevention solution, announced today a strategic partnership with Mojio, the leading technology platform and SaaS provider for connected car services. Katasi will provide its technology, Groove, as Mojio’s exclusive network-based distracted driving solution.
Katasi’s patented Groove technology is unlike other distracted driving prevention technologies: Groove works in concert with mobile network operators and wireless carriers to block distracting content at the network level, before it reaches the phone. This network-based blocking technology provides a robust distraction-avoidance solution that doesn’t rely on the driver to opt-in (nor opt-out), is thwart-proof and verifiable and provides a user experience that is seamless to the driver and automatically engages while the vehicle is in motion. Current app-based solutions are often ineffective in ensuring that drivers are not using their phones as they rely on the conscience of the driver to not override, a tall order when studies show that while 98 percent of drivers believe that texting while driving is dangerous, more than 66 percent admit to still doing so.
“We are thrilled to be working with Mojio, leaders in delivering smarter, safer connected car experiences to families and small businesses, and visionaries who recognize that Groove ‘just works,’” said Scott Tibbitts, CEO of Katasi. “The implementation of Katasi Groove by mobile network operators, in combination with the deployment of Mojio’s hardware agnostic connected car services, will enable truly scalable and potentially life-saving distraction avoidance technology to drivers around the world.”
Core to the partnership is an agreement to pursue the deployment of the Groove technology to Mojio’s existing and future MNO customers, delivering added value to subscribers of connected car services – not only with the peace of mind delivered by network-based distraction avoidance, but also because Groove’s impact on behavior is verifiable and can unlock previously unavailable cost-savings via innovative insurance carriers that want to encourage and reinforce safer driving behavior.
“As a parent of teen drivers, I know the stress that comes with worrying about your loved ones while they are on the road,” said Kenny Hawk, CEO of Mojio. “With Groove, Katasi goes to the mobile network level and suppresses the distractions before they arrive on the driver’s phone. This novel solution creates a win-win scenario that will not only improve safety for drivers and their passengers, but also enables a meaningful enhancement to the mobile network operator’s connected car service.”
“As a society that is hungry for constant connection and has a fear of missing out, we have come to believe that ‘one more quick text’ is ok. But with the National Safety Council reporting that cell phone use while driving now leads to 1.6 million crashes and nearly 390,000 injuries every year, it is clear that we need technology that eliminates the temptation and allows us to relax and enjoy our time on the road,” said Tibbitts. “Groove is that solution.”
About Katasi
Katasi is a Boulder, Colorado-based technology company founded by executives from the telecom and aerospace industries with the express purpose of creating and deploying technologies to stop distractions to a driver before they reach the drivers phone. Katasi believes that drivers recognize both the danger and temptation of texting while driving and provides tools that eliminate the temptation and help focus on the drive. In partnership with major US and International telecom carriers, Katasi is deploying the world’s first network-level distracted driving solution, Groove, regarded by distracted driving experts as the first truly effective technology solution to the growing epidemic of distracted driving. To learn more about Katasi visit www.katasi.com.
About Mojio
Scalable, secure and hardware-agnostic, Mojio is the cloud platform and SaaS provider of choice for automakers and mobile network operators looking to build profitable connected car services. Mojio’s platform solutions and mobile apps deliver a smarter, safer and more convenient car ownership experience for the global driving community. With real-world data gathered from more than 7 billion miles of driving, Mojio provides a big data analytics framework that uses machine learning to generate actionable insights, unlocking the next generation of revenue streams for companies throughout the automotive value chain.
Founded in 2012, Mojio has growing teams in Silicon Valley, Vancouver and Sofia, and some of the world’s biggest brands as customers, investors and partners, including Amazon, Bosch, Deutsche Telekom, Microsoft, SAP and T-Mobile. Mojio is a career-accelerator for driven tech professionals looking to shape the future of mobility and make driving safer. To learn more about Mojio visit https://www.moj.io/.
