For the second time in three months, Seattle startup Glympse has partnered with a big-name automaker to provide its hands-free location-sharing technology.
Just two months after inking a similar deal with Ford, today Glympse announced a new deal with BMW Group.
When paired with the Glympse app, people driving vehicles equipped with BMW Apps or MINI Connected can share their location information with friends and family members using voice commands or buttons on the steering wheel.
In other words, no need to pick up the mobile phone to tell your loved ones that you’ll be 10 minutes late.
“We are focused on partnering with top-tier companies in industries that benefit from real-time location sharing,” Bryan Trussel, CEO and co-founder of Glympse, said in a press release. “This latest automotive partnership underscores the value that Glympse provides to drivers looking to bring the mobile experience to the automobile dashboard.”
Drivers must have the Glympse app installed on their iOS device — BMW Apps and MINI Connected do not support Android — and then connect the phone via Bluetooth or USB. They can simply say ‘Send a Glympse’ to share their location. Then, drivers can send a location-based alert to a friend or family member’s email, cell phone, Facebook or Twitter. Recipients can follow drivers for up to four hours and do not need the Glympse app.
Texting and driving continues to be a big problem, despite powerful public service announcements condemning the practice. Nearly 23 percent of auto collisions in the U.S. involve cell phones.
Backed by Ignition Partners and Menlo Ventures, Glympse last December inked a deal to integrate its service with Garmin’s iPhone and Android navigation apps.
Previously on GeekWire: Glympse helps Seattle geeks track each another at SXSW
