TotalPDA Smartphone & GPS News

Disney’s GPS mobile phones

Posted on 12. Apr, 2006 by Joanna in News, Sat-nav & GPS, Smartphones

Trust Disney to take other people’s simple idea and manage to make it seem like their invention. The simple cell phone – whether for Kids or Grannies, is not a new thing, but the latest GPS mobile phone service from Disney allows parents to monitor their children’s phone usage more closely than ever before.

The service also offers parents the ability to set spending limits for voice, text and downloads, and even when the phone can be used. They can set this up either through the mobile phone itself or through a PC. The parents will also be able to track the child using the mobile’s GPS system and a compatible phone or PC, and so be able to see where little Tom or Jane is at any point in the day.

Now, can you guess what my issue will be with this? First off, I don’t know why 10 year olds (the target age group) need a mobile except for emergencies – so what if one such emergency happens during the time that the phone’s set to be out of use? The idea of setting spending limits so easily is a good one though, I’ll give them that, but on a different nostalgic note – I grew up just fine without my mum having to sit and watch my movements on a PC screen. I know the world’s a different place now – but still not sure how effective a “safety device” this is. I hope they prove me wrong.

Any thoughts? Post and let me know.