To find out more, Claims' magazine editor-in-chief Eric Gilkey spoke with State Farm's Patty Gaumond, assistant vice president of enterprise internet solutions, and Susan Hood, claims vice president, for details on how the widget works, if it will be offered for iPhone users, and what's next from the tech labs at State Farm. (Claims is a sister publication of Tech Decisions.)

Briefly describe the technology and how it works.

Patty Gaumond: "On the Move" is an Android widget aimed at combating the problem of distracted driving. It allows Android smartphone users to compose and preload customized messages that can be sent as automated responses to incoming text messages. Android owners can create their own responses and save them to a library for future use. The service works with all incoming texts, or can be limited to senders listed in the user's smartphone address book. Activating the service prior to driving is just one way to use the widget. Smartphone users also can use the service while in class, at the gym, or in a movie.

"On the Move" users simply activate the auto-response function by turning on the widget and composing or selecting auto-response messages. Incoming text messages are still received and can be accessed in the user's inbox at any time.

This widget joins an array of other automated text-response applications available to manage how people respond to text messages when they are otherwise occupied. However, this is the first offered from an insurance company, and it is free.

Is it only being offered for Android users? Or will an app for iPhone users be offered? Is the app limited to State Farm policyholders only? Why or why not?

Patty Gaumond: Currently, "On the Move" is available on Android smartphones, but the State Farm development team is evaluating options beyond this platform.

We chose to create an Android widget because, of the phones we provide services for, Android is the only operating system that currently allows for widgets, and we wanted to make this safety feature as easy and as quickly accessible as possible.

State Farm's "Pocket Agent" app and "On the Move" widget are free for both policyholders and non-customers. As a policyholder, however, you are privy to features such as viewing your insurance card, policy details, and submitting an auto claim. With the rise in cell phone-related accidents, limiting distractions such as texting benefits everyone on the road. Therefore, offering "On the Move" as a free feature seemed like the right thing to do.

Is State Farm able to use its claim data to support the notion that texting while driving increases the risk of an accident? How big of a problem is texting while driving for insurers?

Susan Hood: The National Safety Council estimates that 200,000 crashes each year are caused by drivers who are texting. As the nation's largest insurer of automobiles, State Farm knows this is an important issue. We have a long history of commitment to auto safety, dating back to the 1920s. State Farm is a leader in research and programs aimed at preventing distracted driving and other forms of dangerous driving. Our goal is to help make our roadways safer for all who share them.

State Farm has demonstrated that it is on the cutting edge of technology. Do you have future plans for additional apps?

Patty Gaumond: In addition to "Pocket Agent," we have developed the "Steer Clear" mobile application for iPhone and iPod Touch, and we continue to enhance our mobile web with new features such as the FastEstimate for auto insurance. We continue to enhance and expand our capabilities to meet the needs of consumers.

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Under the Hood: State Farm&#039;s Latest App &quot;On the Move&quot;

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Under the Hood: State Farm's Latest App "On the Move"