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Commuters report pressure from the boss and a desire to stay connected as top reasons for reading e-mail while driving, new study findsAvailability of voice-controlled iLane™ from IMS Inc. helps commuters cope Waterloo, Ontario, Canada - November 24, 2008 - Feeling a need to stay in touch, commuters are continuing to check e-mail and text messages on the way to work, despite possible risks to their personal safety according to a North American study released today. The Commuting and Staying Connected omnibus, conducted by Angus Reid Strategies for IMS Inc., found that 32 percent of Americans and 23 percent of Canadians surveyed think that it is important to their work-life balance to have access to text-messaging, phone and e-mail while commuting. Some are feeling pressure from their employers. Roughly a quarter of Canadians (24%) and a fifth of Americans (21%) say they have missed an important e-mail or opted out of a call from work while commuting. Some of them - particularly in the U.S. - faced repercussions. American bosses were more likely than their Canadian counterparts to react in a negative way to an employee missing a call while commuting (29% of Americans versus 17% of Canadians). At the same time, 18% of Americans and 8% of Canadians surveyed feel like they are letting down their employer or colleagues if they fail to answer work-related phone calls or emails. Accessing mobile technology en route to the office is important for many simply because they like communicating and staying in touch with work, family or friends (53% of Americans; 48% of Canadians), they want to make better use of time (13% of Americans; 24% of Canadians), and they find it convenient (15% of Americans and Canadians). "Whatever their reasons might be, this study shows that commuters are beginning to consider in-car connectivity a basic need," said Tony Cassetta, Chief Operating Officer, IMS. "These attitudes combined with increasing pressures to stay connected are not likely to disappear, so it's important for commuters to know that there is an alternative to accessing their devices while on the road." That is why IMS today is announcing the North American availability of iLane�, the first in-car device that interacts directly with your smartphone and lets you manage your inbox using simple voice commands. ILane is a portable smartphone-compatible device that can ride inside commuters' vehicles, allowing them to control their smartphone entirely hands-free. iLane reads e-mails to the user out loud, on command, and it allows for access and control of other smartphone applications by voice command, including managing phone calls, SMS messages and calendars.. As an added feature, iLane provides daily news, sports, and weather updates on-demand from The Associated Press and The Weather Network, ensuring that commuters are not only connected to the office but are also well-informed about what is happening in the world around them. iLane provides secure data exchange with the user's smartphone to keep private information localized in the vehicle, with no need for an external server connection. It also allows users to make and receive phone calls using a simple voice command, without taking their hands off the wheel or their eyes off the road. This may address the concerns of respondents who cited safety concerns as a reason not to use mobile technology during their drive to work. More than one third (37% of Americans and 35% of Canadians) cited this. "There are people with long commute times who feel that being connected to the office while on the road is a priority," said Mr. Cassetta. "iLane is an alternative choice that enables you to drive with both hands on the wheel, allowing you to pay attention to what's happening on the road instead of on your mobile screen." Pricing and AvailabilityiLane™ is available in North America now at a suggested retail price of $599.00 (Canadian), plus $7.99 per month. It can be purchased at www.ilane.com. iLane is currently compatible with BlackBerry 8000 series and smartphones running BlackBerry OS 4.1 and newer. Compatibility with additional operating systems will be available throughout 2009. About IMSIntelligent Mechatronic Systems Inc. (IMS) specializes in the research, development and production of innovative and progressive solutions in the areas of telematics, automotive safety and mobile media. Our proprietary technologies, which combine mechanical engineering, electronic controls, detection sensors and computational intelligence, are aimed at making 'safer and smarter' vehicles. IMS' solutions include: iLane�, a hands-free, voice-based email solution for in-vehicle use; and DriveSync� a turn-key GPS-based system for PAYD insurance offerings, fleet monitoring, vehicle tracking, and government programs. IMS is based in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. For more information about IMS, please visit www.Intellimec.com. Study MethodologyFrom November 4 to November 7, 2008, Angus Reid Strategies conducted an online survey among a randomly selected, representative sample of 1,002 adult Canadians. The margin of error for the total sample is +/- 3.1%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to Statistics Canada's most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a representative sample of the entire adult population of Canada. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding. From November 6 to November 11, 2008, Research Now conducted an online survey among a randomly selected, representative sample of 1,010 U.S. adults. The margin of error for the total sample is +/- 3.1%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted to ensure a representative sample of the entire adult population of the United States. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding. Angus Reid Strategies polls are conducted using the Angus Reid Forum online panel (www.angusreidforum.com), which is recruited via an industry-leading process that incorporates a randomized, widespread invitation approach and a triple opt-in screening procedure. The panel is maintained through state-of-the-art sampling techniques and frequent verifications of personal identity, contact information, and demographic characteristics. This premier online survey platform presents respondents with highly visual, interactive, and engaging surveys, ensuring that panel members provide thoughtful and reliable responses. Contacts:Canadian inquiries: U.S. inquiries:
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