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Source: Yahoo News

Efforts to curb the practice of using electronic wireless devices, such as a BlackBerry device, while driving have picked up steam following the release of a Nationwide Mutual Insurance survey(pdf) that found one in five drivers texting while driving. Nearly three-quarters of drivers use cell phones.

The New Jersey Assembly and Senate voted to send to Gov. Jon Corzine legislation that would allow police to pull over drivers for typing, reading or sending text messages while at the wheel. The bill – S1099 – also would allow primary enforcement of the state’s ban on drivers using any cell phone that is not a “hands-free” device.

In 2004, New Jersey made it illegal to talk on a hand-held cell phone while driving. The law, however, allows police to ticket drivers only if they are stopped for another offense.

If signed into law, New Jersey would become the fifth state to adopt the stricter rule. Only Washington has banned text messaging while behind the wheel.

Violators of the cell phone restriction would face $100 fines. “Texting” while driving would also result in $100 fines.

“Clearly, this is a problem that will become more severe in the future as wireless communications become more commonplace,” David Mayer, D-Gloucester, said in a written statement. “We need to act now to discourage it.”

Source: Land Line Magazine

Maybe its just me, but I feel like the whole world has an iPhone and I don’t.  Everywhere I turn, there’s another iPhone user.  In fact, at my last staff meeting, two were given away just because (while cool, its not quite as awesome as Twitter giving ALL employees a new iPhones).  The only thing stopping the purchase is the fact I am on a different carrier.  But Congress is working on making the switch just a little bit easier.

Consumers have been able to take their phone numbers with them to another cell phone operator since late 2003. And since then millions of people have exercised their right to keep their numbers and switch to another carrier. But the process has not always been smooth. And the Senators say that if the process is burdensome or slow, it will likely deter many consumers from changing providers even when they dissatisfied. Ultimately that hurts competition and pricing for all consumers.

Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) introduced legislation to expand number portability rules. The bill is called the Same Number Act of 2007, and it aims to help consumers keep the same phone number when leaving one voice service for another–regardless of wireless or landline. The bill also aims to expedite the number portability process because extended waiting periods for number porting could deter some consumers from making a switch.

“This legislation would require the FCC to revisit its number portability rules and extend them to all applicable voice communications services, not just telecom services. As a result, consumers will be able to take full advantage of new choices and cheaper prices as they become available,” Stevens said.

Sources: Extra Technology News and Fierce Wireless