CTIA: Vlingo Debuts InCar Android App for Sprint Users

Vlingo on Thursday announced the launch of a free Android app that lets users send and respond to messages, make calls, and get directions all hands free. The app is called Vlingo InCar and works for Android 2.1 devices on Sprint, including the HTC Evo 4G and the Samsung Epic 4G. The app is available for download from the Android Market right now.

The slick-looking app’s home screen has give main icons—Call, Text, Navigate, SafeReader, and Tap & Speak. After turning on the app, the user can say a “wake up word” and then give it voice prompts to activate calling, texting, navigation, or reading of texts. The Tap & Speak icon is there if the user prefers not to use all voice prompts.

Also included in the app is Vlingo Answers, which lets users ask questions of any kind and Vlingo looks for answers on the Internet. The app also does things the Android OS or other apps already do, including sending texts and e-mails, searching Google, updating Facebook or Twitter, and allowing check-ins on Foursquare.

We’d love to see an app like this available for more than just Sprint, as anything that encourages more people to not text and drive is good for all of us. A rep from Vlingo says more carrier availability should be coming down the pipeline later this year.