WATERLOO, Ontario, March 23 (UPI) -- The Canadian maker of the BlackBerry, Research In Motion, says it will pull BlackBerry apps that alert drivers to police drunk-driving checkpoints.
The company announced the move after a request from four U.S. senators, Computerworld.com reported Wednesday.
"RIM's decision to remove these apps from their online store proves that when it comes to drunk driving, there should not be an app for that," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., one of the senators who had asked for the apps to be withdrawn, Computerworld.com reported.
SCHUMER -- along with fellow Democratic Sens. Harry Reid of Nevada, Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey and Tom Udall of New Mexico -- asked Apple, Google and RIM to pull an unspecified number of apps from their mobile phone app markets.
RIM is the first of the three makers of smartphone operating systems to confirm it's removing some applications from its online app stores.
The senators said they had problems with apps that include alerts of sobriety checkpoints and with features in some programs that warn drivers of user-reported speed traps, roving radar-equipped patrol cars and recent accidents.
"Giving drunk drivers a free tool to evade checkpoints, putting innocent families and children at risk, is a matter of public concern," the senators said in a letter to executives at Apple, Google and RIM.
