With respect to your main point, that the law may outlaw the use of OTHER uses of communication, it appears to me that the California legislature has handled it correctly, and has specifically banned person-to-person text messaging… not other uses, like Avego. [see below for more detail].

Firstly, however, we also tell Avego users not to engage inappropriately with the Avego application while driving… in fact, the Avego application uses audio announcements specifically so the driver does not have to look at the screen while driving. And, the interaction that is expected from the driver, to select the car they are driving and the route they are driving, should be done before they start moving the car (and in fact, can be done while the driver is walking to their car!)

Now, back to the California law, SB28. Here is a copy of the full text: http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_0001-0050/sb_28_bill_20080804_amended_asm_v97.html

The law specifically requires that anyone who writes, sends, or reads a text-based communication would pay a $20 fine on the first offense.

Now, this undoubtedly would cause alarm for so many services that already exist in cars. For example, what about the idea that your radio can show you the name of the radio station or the song that is playing? Clearly, that is a text-based wireless communication. And what about other services, like GPS devices that tell you when a road ahead is clogged? Are those outlawed as well? Well no… because the law then goes on to specify:
(b) As used in this section “write, send, or read a text-based communication” means using an electronic wireless communications
device to manually communicate with any person using a text-based communication, including, but not limited to, communications referred
to as a text message, instant message, or electronic mail.

So, the California legislature decided to do the right thing, and limit the law to the source of the traffic problem: people sending text messages and e-mails to other people while driving. Nothing to do with computer services sending notices, etc., like how Avego operates. So, it doesn’t prevent you from reading the name of the radio station that pops up on your built-in radio either. At least that’s the way it so clearly seems to me.

Hope that helps.

With respect to other devices, Avego is shipping right now on the iPhone for consumer applications and on our WinCE MDT for commercial applications. The GPS device you are referring to is not a shipping product, and we don’t comment on unannounced products.

Thanks!

The law allows one to read and enter data into a GPS device. I know Mapflow was designing Avego for the [***DELETED CONFIDENTIAL INFO***] GPS device before switching to the Apple iPhone platform. Any chance they will release a GPS download that works the same?