New kids-only smartphone launches in Australia with NO camera, apps so your parents can see incoming calls and texts and a GPS tracker
- Opel Mobile has released its SmartKids Phone aimed at keeping children safe
- Just under half of Australian kids aged six to 13 are using mobile phones
- Designed by parents, Opel Mobile device doesn’t have a camera & blocks apps
- It can also limit the amount of screen time children are having each day
- The mobile can now be found at JB Hi-Fi for $249 with no subscription fees
A telecommunications company has crafted a ‘child friendly’ smartphone that looks just like an Apple device but with no camera, a GPS tracker and the ability for parents to read every message.
While teenagers and adults now spend a huge amount of time on smartphones for both work and personal use, the requirement for younger children to access a mobile is also becoming far more common.
Just under half (46 per cent) of Australian kids aged 6-13 are using mobile phones but up until now there hasn’t been any tangible way to keep their usage in check.
Opel Mobile has debuted its SmartKids Phone to seemingly solve this problem, asking parents for their input and using real-time safety measures to ensure children are browsing and messaging the right people.
Just under half (46 per cent) of Australian kids aged 6-13 are using mobile phones but up until now there hasn’t been any tangible way to keep their usage in check
Unlike other smartphones it has no camera, yet includes a stack of clever security features such as parental control over downloading apps and phone calls, a GPS location tracker with location alerts, an emergency button plus a child-friendly case and screen protector.
‘Technology is inevitable in this modern age, but there are huge safety risks for children which is why we’ve created Australia’s first ultra-safe smartphone for kids,’ Executive General Manager of Opel Mobile Paul English said.
Designed by parents, it has built-in parental controls that can be remotely controlled by multiple parents using either their iPhone or Android.
Unlike other smartphones it has no camera, yet includes a stack of clever security features such as parental control over downloading apps and phone calls, a GPS location tracker with location alerts, an emergency button plus a child-friendly case and screen protector
‘After conducting our own research, we found that the three biggest parental concerns around children having a smartphone were sharing personal information online (including inappropriate images), screen time and using unsuitable apps.
‘Our new phone addresses all these concerns and includes many other security features, making it the safest possible first phone for young children while still giving them freedom.’
Parents will be notified when a new app is downloaded by their child and can set time limits on how long they can be used for each day.
Parents will be notified when a new app is downloaded by their child and can set time limits on how long they can be used for each day
There is also an added ability to set specific times and days that different apps can be used.
The phone comes in-built with a GPS tracker and location history, ability to create a safe contacts list – the only people who can converse with the child – and an SOS emergency button that will call up to five nominated contacts.
An ‘activity report’ can be sent to parents to show what calls and texts have been made and received during a certain time period.
The phone retails for $249 and is available exclusively in JB Hi-Fi and the Good Guys.
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