UK Gets New Child-friendly Mobile Network, Bemilo
Bemilo claims to be the UK's safest mobile network.
Children today are growing up in a far more technologically advanced world than the generation before them. While smartphones and tablets are no big deal to today's kids, those that grew up in the 80's and 90's will have some very different childhood memories. As a result, it's not at all uncommon to see 12-year-olds with mobile phones.
Still, it's not difficult to understand why some parent's might be a bit uncomfortable with the idea of giving their young child a mobile phone. Chief among the worries associated with such a decision is the cost, as well as the people their child might be contacting. Bemilo, a new mobile network launching in the United Kingdom, aims to remove some of those concerns with controls that allow parents to select the times of day the phone can be used and the numbers it is capable of dialing.
"Bemilo's exclusive functions put YOU in full control of your child's mobile service," the network promises. "Putting a stop to mobile bullying, late night phone use, and rising monthly mobile phone bills."
Bemilo is a MVNO, or mobile virtual network operator, that piggybacks on Vodafone's infrastructure. The network's SIM card will allow parents to load money onto their child's phone on a PAYG basis. There's a base charge of £3.95 a month, with calls charged at 10p per minute, texts charged at 10p per message and data charged at 25p per MB. Parents can control how much is spent, what time of day the phone is used, when data is switched on or off, and whether or not their child is allowed to send photos or video. There's also the ability to 'turn off' the phone during school hours or at night without removing the ability to contact certain numbers (such as parents or guardians). You can also block certain numbers from contacting your child, a feature designed to combat bullying.
Parents looking to use Bemilo will have to sign up for a safety pack that will include a SIM card. Hit up Bemilo's website to learn more.
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Jane McEntegart is a writer, editor, and marketing communications professional with 17 years of experience in the technology industry. She has written about a wide range of technology topics, including smartphones, tablets, and game consoles. Her articles have been published in Tom's Guide, Tom's Hardware, MobileSyrup, and Edge Up.
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Pyree "You can also block certain numbers from contacting your child, a feature designed to combat bullying."Reply
Or your ex who is fighting for the child's custody. -
ivyanev While i can see how this is a good thing(here in Bulgaria parents have the ability to check their children's GPS data ),but i also can see how every kid with change would change the sim with some pre paid .Reply -
Invading your child's privacy by reading all their messages? Doesn't sound very child friendly to me!Reply
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michaelssw CharlotteBInvading your child's privacy by reading all their messages? Doesn't sound very child friendly to me!Reply
You don't sound very child friendly. lol. I was just going to make sure that some 40 year old pervert isn't talking to my daughter. It's not like I'm going to post all her messages on twitter. -
eddieroolz CharlotteBInvading your child's privacy by reading all their messages? Doesn't sound very child friendly to me!Reply
Privacy, oh please. -
marty9999 If you need a parental control for the iPhone/iPad, check out FREE McGruff SafeGuard.Reply
McGruff "Take A Bite Out of Crime" is known in the USA for family safety since 1979.
They also have a Windows Parental Control system (http://www.GoMcGruff.com)
McGruff SafeGuard released a Child Safe Browser app that is a look-alike for Safari, but provides a parent with full control of the categories of websites that can be visited.
It also provides a summary of activity to the parent via email.
Check out http://www.GoMcGruff.com/browser
and http://www.GoMcGruff.com/BrowserVideo