SimpleAssist's Awesome Apps: Check out ESCORT Live™ and Travel Safe This Memorial Day Weekend

SimpleAssist App Awesomeness: ESCORT Live™,

 

The SimpleAssist philosophy is based on people discovering and using technology that enhances or improves our day to day lives, and we are always impressed by those application providers who "get it"; recognizing that good software is about true symbiosis between the user and the product in order to maximize it's use.  In fact, it's not what this app does that makes it awesome... rather is the way that it does it that makes it special.  

Last night, I was reminded of such an app after after seeing a post on facebook by a relative who was notifying fellow travelers that there were vehicles vehicles on the highway being pulled over - a day before the 3 day Memorial Day weekend.

Escort, the manufacturers of the popular PASSPORT brand of radar detectors, and the mobile ESCORT Live™ application offers drivers a uniquely accurate method to avoid or adjust their route for speed traps, road hazards, traffic cameras, live "real-time" alerts, and overall " duckin of the fuzz" functionality J

Although providing live and historical safety and traffic notifications in real-time with technology is not a new concept, nor is finding ways of getting such notification from our peers, which is akin to the old school flashing of the high beams, or informing fellow CB radio enthusiasts of a "Smoky in the bushes".  Over the past several years however, some widely popular app such as Trapster (which I used for many years - See Picture Below), that have been based on the same philosophy, and predicated on desire of those good citizens like my brother in law who wish to "see something, say something", providing smart phone users a an simple, effective tool which primarily leverages that social compact to do just that.

Trapster(R) example

Furthermore, these apps typically work by combining GPS and navigation data such as speed, location, route and relational data and internet connectivity to pull the map info and user reported alert information, in order to plot the route, show location based warning history (e.g. existing speed traps). Collecting the report and report type of the user which gets pushed to the cloud and displayed on the map anonymously (usually, unless setup otherwise) data to take your report, push it to the cloud and then distribute to app users through the internet. 

ESCORT Live™  uses a combination of real-time data collection from their bluetooth connected hardware AND social input from users.  Hardware is NOT required to use the application for iOS or Android

However, it is here where Escort separates itself from the pack, and finding the PERFECT way to offset the inconstancies in the live alert system by pulling from their area of expertise, Escort uses the "real-time" data based on the data collection of their radar detectors which are connected via Bluetooth which uses the mobile device's internet connectivity to send back to the servers..


Personally, whether it was intended or not, using the radar-based data to supplement, rather than replace or minimize the social based platform, the  synergy which resulted from taking the best from both worlds is what truly makes this App Awesome.  They developed a "best of breed" application based on existing idea by offering their users the option of connecting one of their detector hardware via bluetooth, in addition to the option of paying a subscription for enhanced details, maximizing the user experience and accuracy of the system functionality.  By empowering the users to report from the road in the ESCORT Live™ app, rather than controlling them by requiring hardware in a closed system and using the app to sell MORE hardware, or using the hardware to drive app to subscriptions - which they could have easily done I believe, as many have done before -they created a win-win-win scenario, which (in my opinion) will be paying dividends for a long time to come... and I bet they will sell more detectors than if they forced users to do so!

As with all technology, in my humble opinion, it seems that people are much more keen on buying upgrades to enhance what they already have, rather than out of pure necessity or because they being forced to do so. Further, by offering optional subscriptions ($4.99 / Month, ) or yearly subscription options, they offer users to select what will scale to their needs, allowing users such as myself to use the subscription or not, use the hardware or not, and generally allow me to make the decision to get what I need from the app. 

Check it out for yourself (No hardware or subscription required): 

Download ESCORT Live™ for iOS

Download Escort Live for Android

 At SimpleAssist, we dig that way of doing things, and it's for this reason ESCORT Live™ get a "SimpleAssist: Awesome App" stamp of approval!

have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day holiday.

Derek Shocklee
Founder of SimpleAssist - SimpleAssistme.com