With around 200 mobile app development companies based in and around Toronto, Polar Mobile is in the heart of a booming industry. The Ontario Premier, Dalton McGuinty, met with Polar Mobile and their CEO Kunal Gupta, to highlight the importance of creating jobs for the future. Whether or not you think the Premier is doing a good job, it was still funny to see Polar Mobile give him a BlackBerry Torch loaded with apps the company has developed such as The Hockey News, Maclean’s, NHLPA, TIME magazine, World Politics Review, GQ India and Shanghai Daily.
Yesterday, Ontario, Canada passed legislation that stipulates drivers can no longer use their handsets to call, email, SMS or chat. The penalties are around $500 per infraction beginning early next year.
There are a lot of BlackBerry users out there that like to send email and SMS while driving, so what should they do? There are several companies that manufacture hands-free devices, but are these the alternative we should be looking for? There is very little evidence to suggest that these products are actually making drivers safer.
Driving while having a conversation will ultimately distract putting yourself and others in danger. While the hands-free accessory can help keep your eyes on the road, it doesn’t address the issue of reaction times. Reaction times will always be diminished when someone is having a conversation.
If you’re a driver who is looking for a hands-free accessory, you could choose the BlueAnt Q1, the BlackBerry VM605 or a software solution like Vlingo.
Or, you could just wait until you get to where you’re going.
There has been some discussion on Canadian conservative talk shows about the fact that Jim Balsillie’s deal requires an investment on the part of the Hamilton government to update the Copps Coliseum.
The deal would involve an investment of $150 million dollars on the part of the Hamilton government to bring the Copps Coliseum up to NHL standars.
Although this may seem like a significant investment of tax payers dollars, it will have significant returns. The City of Hamilton knows this, which is why they have committed to helping Mr. Balsillie with the move. For those tax payers in Hamilton who aren’t convinced, the ROI potential is an easy sell.
The City of Hamilton will have 300 days or so to use the improved facilities as they see fit. An NHL team only plays around 41 home games, which means that minus a couple weeks for renovations, the facility can accommodate a wide range of revenue generating events for most of the year. Events such as big ticket concerts, indoor sports and trade shows are all much easier to accommodate, and will generate business for the government as well as local businesses. Jim is even investing millions of his own dollars to help with the facility upgrade.
Following closely after a similar decision in the state of California, Ontario Transportation Minister Jim Bradley has proposed a new law banning cellphone use while driving.
Based upon claims that 20% of all driving accidents are caused by the use of cell phone use while driving, the law would fine citizens anywhere from $500 up to license suspension or jail time. The provinces of Quebec and Nova Scotia currently have a similar law in effect.To see a full CBC video report on the proposed law, click the video above.
To make sure no members of the BlackBerry Nation face jail time, we recommend using Vlingo 2.0 or one of the reasonably priced headsets in the BlackBerry Cool store.
Remember when we visited iotum awhile back? They’re the developers of Talk-Now, which lets you check the availability status of peers, as well as set your own. In addition to being able to set alerts for when someone’s status changes, you can make calls directly from their contact list user interface. Anyway, that’s old news. Lately, iotum has been working on a Facebook application for free conference calls with your friends, which, needless to say, is awesome. (Hey, while you’re off checking the app, why dont’cha join BBCool’s Facebook page too?) Obviously this has impressed someone with deep pockets, since Verdexus General Partner Randall Howard has bought his way onto iotum’s board of directors as chairman for an undisclosed amount. Although we might have a soft spot for local companies, they’re pumping out innovative software based on platforms we know and love, so it’s good to hear iotum’s getting the funding to keep doing their thing.
Remember when we visited 
