ChildLocate Offers Safer Alternative to Mobile Phone Use

Parents are ignoring health concern and are buying mobile phones for their young children according to a new study. ChildLocate offers safer alternative to mobile phone use as it locates the child via mobile phone without relying on lengthy phone calls that might compromise the childs safety.

(PRWEB) April 22, 2005 -- Research just released by the international consultancy MobileYouth shows that British parents are ignoring the potential health risks that mobile phones pose to their children, and that mobile ownership by those under 10 has doubled in the last two years.

According to Jon Magnusson, Director of ChildLocate, the leading mobile location provider in the UK, parents that are anxious to know the whereabouts of their children are choosing to disregard concerns about mobile radiation just so they can maintain contact with their children.

'More and more parents are buying mobile phones for children because they want to know where they are. However, while this helps ensure their childs safety, it can also put them at risk from the possibility of radiation that these devices can emit, says Magnusson.

'The answer is to use a passive service such as ChildLocate that enables parents to check on their childs whereabouts, without having to rely on their children using or answering the phone. Whilst the phone is switched on, the parent can receive up to date location information, either on a map on their PC or via text message on their mobile phone. ChildLocate can also determine the childs last position even if their phone is switched off depending on the mobile network used he adds.

'This means that, by using ChildLocate, parents are gaining all the benefits of their children owning a mobile phone, but without the potential risks that phone use is perceived to cause. This makes ChildLocate a genuinely safe, discreet and cost effective alternative to ringing your children to check on their whereabouts, explains Magnusson.

The ChildLocate service uses the latest mobile phone technology to enable parents to locate their children's whereabouts in an instant. Parents can either access a webpage, which then shows the child's location on a map, or use a mobile phone, which indicates the area by text. The service can be used for mobile phones using the Vodafone, T-Mobile, Orange and O2 networks.

Michael Clarke, radiation expert at the Health Protection Agency states: 'We feel we should discourage prolonged use of mobile phones. There isn't actually a proven health risk. What we are talking about is the possibility of one emerging after prolonged use.

'Our view is that it is sensible to take a precautionary approach to mobile use, especially in the very young, because it is such a new thing. I cannot predict what I might find out tomorrow. Parents are the best people to judge the needs of their children but they should have all the information, adds Clarke.

More information on the MobileYouth report is available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4459619.stm

Parents can try the innovative ChildLocate service FREE for 30 Days. Thereafter, ChildLocates low cost tariff offers parents the opportunity to locate their children for an annual fee of just 69.95. Up to five mobile phones can be registered on ChildLocates low cost tariff. The annual cost includes 25 location requests and unlimited text messages at only 10p. Additional location requests are charged at 50p.

Over 4000 parents and children have registered with the ChildLocate service since launch a year ago.

After having successfully completed extensive user trials with Vodafone UK during the summer of 2003, Vodafone's approval was gained to launch ChildLocate using Vodafone's UK mobile network. In October 2003, agreement was signed which enabled the ChildLocate service to be offered also on the O2 and T-Mobile mobile networks. In February 2004 ChildLocate also became available on the Orange network.

ChildLocate has also taken an active part in the development of a Privacy Management Code of Practice issued by the UK Mobile Operators, setting out guidelines on how personal tracking services should be operated and how safety and privacy of mobile phone users is to be protected.

The location service industry Code of Practice applies to all those who base their service on location data provided by the mobile network operators and will be enforced through contracts between the service providers and network operators.

For more information on ChildLocate, visit www.childlocate.co.uk or telephone 0870 44 500 55.
For pictures and logos go to www.childlocate.co.uk/media.htm

Press Information:
Chris Shaw
Pink Elephant PR
Telephone: 01484 341 001
Facsimile: 01484 341 003
E-mail: chris@pinkelephantpr.com
Web: www.pinkelephantpr.com

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