Manitoba broker, U.S. company partner to offer text-blocking mobile app in Canada

Manitoba broker Waggoner Insurance has partnered with a Florida-based mobile applications provider to offer a text-blocking and distracted driving solution across Canada.

The partnership and distribution agreement has created DriveAlert-Canada, which will offer Protext Mobility DriveAlert product.

The app, currently available for Android and BlackBerry, uses OBD-II technology in an effort to curb distracted driving. It offers features such as setting up automatic replies to text messages and preventing web browsing to curb mobile use while behind the wheel, according to the Protext website.

“We’re excited to partner alongside this seasoned executive team with a demonstrated and well established operating history within the Insurance vertical,” Steve Berman, the company’s CEO commented in a statement.

“Our initial focus will be the public and private sector insurance carriers, auto dealership groups and independent mobile retail stores throughout Canada. The agreement provides Protext Mobility the ability to leverage the experience and expertise of the insurance broker channel across Canada in partnership with traditional auto insurers.”

Brian Kreitz and Peter Tessier, who head Waggoner, will also lead the day-to-day operations for DriveAlert Canada.

Tessier has been a recent president of the Insurance Brokers Association of Manitoba and just finished his term with the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada, where he chaired the technology committee.

“By partnering with Protext, we are able to do our part in hopefully reducing and curbing the dangerous activity of using mobile devices inappropriately while driving,” Kreitz commented in the statement. “We look forward to implementing technology with the goal to save lives and provide insurance companies the ability to reduce claims costs and control premiums.”