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Did you know, according to a 2006 poll, parents stated the average age for a child to own a mobile phone was only 8-years old? Did you know that number is expected to drop to as low as 5-years old by the end of 2007? So what is the hurry to buy our youngest citizens mobile phones of their own? According to the experts, parents are now purchasing mobile phones for their children simply for a little peace of mind. And, if we’re honest, there’s that little element of enjoying knowing what the little blighters are getting up to… Mobile phone service providers understand how a simple, inexpensive mobile phone can reassure both a parent and a child. There are numerous plans available through popular mobile phone service providers offering packages with features perfect for the youngest consumers. Nonetheless, the majority of the mobile phones are not geared solely to the parent, but have features, interfaces, and/or designs developed to appeal to both genders of all ages. Orange currently has a Nokia 7373 pink perfect for the princess in any home regardless of age. This stylish mobile phone is a MP3 player, FM Radio, and has a 2 megapixel camera. The Nokia N73 black is sleek, stylish is the perfect addition to any wardrobe regardless of age or gender. The affordable mobile phone is a MP3 player, has a 3.2 megapixel camera, and is Bluetooth and USB ready. Orange offers both mobile phones for free with any monthly payment plan. T-Mobile also offers various styles colours of handsets with the child in us all in mind. The Motorola RED SLVR is a video player, video camera, and audio player. Samsung offers pink, black, and blue phones through T-Mobile all offering the Web'n'Walk feature, Bluetooth compatibility, and video camera. As with the mobile phones offered by Orange, T-Mobile offers many inexpensive or free mobile phones to those people agreeing to a monthly payment plan. The future looks bright for mobile service and phone providers offering a product for this niche marketplace. Nonetheless, Disney recently pulled the rug out from underneath a plan to offer mobile virtual network operators to individuals within the UK. According to a Disney Spokesperson, the decision was a result of a rapidly “changing [and] competitive environment”. However, Disney is continually evaluating the UK marketplace in hopes of finding a spot by offering parents the ability to track their children via a special mobile phone, and to ride-a-long on their parents mobile service plan. Watch this space for news on this very interesting development as we get it. There are locating services offered, tracking a mobile phone carried by a child. Almost every new mobile phone offered by Orange, O2 , Vodafone , and T-Mobile is capable of being WAP enabled for no fee – this is required for locater services. The services offer a text message, a phone call, or a ping to the child's phone for a predetermined fee. For instance, KidsOK sells pings to the child's mobile phone at 20 for £9.95 per month. In addition, the parent may be able to see where the child's mobile phone is located by a map on their computer or mobile phone accurate up to 500-meters. Big Brother is also your Dad. Walking the line between trusting a child and protecting a child is often a trick: but when purchasing a mobile phone for your child it is important to remember the world is not always a pretty place. As a parent, we would teach our children not to talk to strangers, not to cross the street without looking both ways, and not to take what is not theirs. However, teaching a child to protect themselves is not always the answer. Instead, as a parent, we can now choose to utilise technological advances to our benefit and develop a little peace of mind knowing our children are safe. Orange, T-Mobile, Vodafone, and O2 all understand the importance of protecting the most valuable asset in our lives – our children. Taking a proactive step in our children today insures our children will have a future. Whether you choose Nokia, Samsung, Orange, or T-Mobile, a simple message or ping can help you keep a protective eye on your children when you can not be there to hold their hand.
Staff editor, Mobile Phones Section, June 2007 |
