Learn how Seattle based OTTER are using BlueVia to add great functionality and unlock new revenue streams

1. OTTER
Case study
What is OTTER?
Erik Wood, Founder and CEO of OTTER, is a father who witnessed his youngest
daughter come inches from being another statistic in the text and drive epidemic.
This traumatic experience inspired Erik to design and build a GPS based app called
OTTER (One Touch Text Response) for smartphones that eliminates the need to
respond to an incoming text or phone call when driving.

2. The OTTER story
Seattle based OTTER launched their first app in April
2010. OTTER silences all chimes, ringtones and buzzes
when the user’s vehicle exceeds ten miles per hour and
sends incoming texts a customisable auto reply. Unless
a Bluetooth accessory is enabled, all calls silently go
to voicemail to stop you from fumbling for that ringing
phone. There is also a Parental Control feature for teen
drivers.
In the United States alone, ‘Text and Drive’ behaviour
was the cause of 16,141 highway deaths from 2001
to 2007 and over 200,000 non-fatal accidents last
year. Effecting real change to this epidemic will need
to include a comprehensive understanding of the
texting culture. At the end of the day, tangible change
will come from the end user – the delivery man, the
carpooling mum, or the teen driver – all choosing not to
text and drive.

3. Features
OTTER provides an intuitive texting auto-reply feature
for the user. What does this have to do with road
safety? Nothing – at least not directly. But Erik has
heard of teens and business people alike using OTTER
to schedule their own “texting blackout periods” so
they can get some focused work done without feeling
disconnected from their social network.
OTTER offers customised pre-set messages for:
• Manual Mode: Instant, one-touch text replies
• uto-Reply: Automatically replies to incoming
A
texts with timer option; silences notifications – no
distractions!
• PS Mode: Automatically replies to incoming texts
G
while driving; silences notifications – no distractions!
(Bluetooth friendly)
Plus OTTER’s Parental Control feature sets & locks
OTTER’s GPS Mode on a teen’s phone via a passcode.

4. How is BlueVia helping OTTER?
The BlueVia SMS API is used to send
out auto response text messages
to inbound text messages when the
user switches on OTTER. Each one of
these auto response messages takes
“BlueVia represents a viable
advantage of the BlueVia SMS API and efficient method for a
small app developer to reach
business model, generating recurring
revenues for OTTER LLC.
millions of new customers
In addition OTTER has taken
advantage of BlueVia’s seamless App
previously out of reach. This
publication process to begin offering pioneering conduit is a game
the app in Telefonica’s Argentinian
App Store. changer to app developers
around the world”
Importantly the BlueVia SMS business model has
allowed Erik to provide the app free of charge to Erik Wood
Telefonica customers, saving them the regular OTTER LLC Founder and CEO
$4.99 pay per download cost. This removes a key
adoption barrier for OTTER, by allowing users
to try the app out without the fear of paying for
something up-front they may not then use.

5. OTTER supports Android, Blackberry and Symbian
Smartphones and is available from Telefonica’s
Argentinian App Store.
You can contact OTTER via:
www.OTTERapp.com
info@OTTERapp.com
Twitter: @OTTERapp

6. For Press and Media Enquiries:
33 Digital
BlueVia@33-digital.com
+44 (0)20 7608 2500