As a long time owner of a Treo I will attest that trying to read and reply to email while driving could get you killed. The iLane is a glove box device that uses Bluetooth to interface with a smartphone to provide a voice command interface to dictate and manage incoming information. The goal is to keep email, text messages, calendar events, and phone calls from distracting the driver, but to still allow for taking care of business. The iLane may not be a perfect method to keep all eyes on the road, but it does qualify as the next best option.

When incoming messages make it through an elaborate filtering system, an excerpt is read to the driver through a text-to-speech module. The driver can listen to the rest of the message or formulate a reply with voice command. Seven supported languages make this the perfect piece of gear for large corporations to include in entire fleets of vehicles.

The only requirement for interfacing with the iLane is Bluetooth and a compatible handheld. Newer Blackberry devices, Palm, Windows Mobile, and Symbian smartphones are all on the approved list. For now the box is an aftermarket add-on, but the company is currently in talks with several device manufacturers and auto producers to implant the technology directly into cellphones and dashboards.

Shouts to my crew over at MTT.