Originally published August 9 2005
Kiddie phones have parental controls
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Several companies offer or will soon offer child-oriented mobile phones with available parental controls.
Mobile phones and talk time may be about to replace the weekly allowance as a reward for good grades and clean rooms.
In the latest entry into what is quickly becoming a crowded market, wireless company Enfora LP and educational toy maker LeapFrog Enterprises Inc. are about to unveil a cellphone especially designed for kids.
The new phone, called TicTalk and aimed at kids ages 6 and up, joins a growing lineup of competitors that includes Mattel Inc., Hasbro Inc., Firefly Mobile Inc. and Walt Disney Co.
Most of these new models are prepaid phones, where parents log on to a Web site and buy packages of minutes.
An estimated 80 percent of adults age 18-65 already carry cellphones, according to market researcher Yankee Group.
And family plans, whereby several phones for various family members are linked to one shared plan, are a popular option for teens.
Until now, adult phones have been essentially the only choice, and these new players believe that if there are kid-oriented options - especially with parental controls - more parents would be willing to sign younger children up.
The TicTalk phone from LeapFrog and Enfora touts educational games, along with its parental controls.
There are no parental controls, other than the ability to control the number of minutes, which will be available online.
It comes with 30 minutes of airtime on Cingular's network, and parents can buy additional time online at www.fireflymobile.com or at Target for 25 cents a minute, in blocks ranging from $10 to $75.
Disney, meanwhile, is modeling its entry more after major carriers' family plans, which have had the most success in signing on 'tweens and teens through their less-expensive group models.
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