An excellent idea: Would you as a parent use one?

Originally Posted By Dirk_Diggler_65

Headline News

Motorola Plans to Make Phones That Would Let Parents Know Kids' Location, Block Obscene Content
Wednesday, August 24, 2005 10:38:14 AM

Motorola Inc., the world's third-largest mobile phone manufacturer, plans to make phones that would let parents monitor their children's whereabouts and censor obscene content, Chairman and CEO Edward Zander said.

Phones are also coming with features to attract young consumers, like next month's planned release of a phone with iTunes, Apple Computer Inc.'s popular media player, Zander told reporters late Tuesday.

"Mobile phones today are more like television when I was a kid," Zander said after visiting his company's software development center in Bangalore. But "there is a way to keep it secure."

While parents need to adapt to the emerging youth culture surrounding mobile phones, adults are right to be concerned about what their kids are listening to, watching and reading, he said.

To meet those concerns, the Schaumburg, Ill.-based company is planning models that would inform parents of their children's whereabouts and carry censorship software, he said.

Motorola had worldwide revenues of $31.3 billion last year and employs 2,900 engineers in India.

Zander said the Indian engineers were working on security features, including access control and data protection.

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I would DEFINATELY use a product like this no matter how much I trust my kid. I dont trust other kids and it also seems very useful is anybody gets injured, abducted, ect.

Thoughts?

 

Originally Posted By FaMulan

In Israel, Israeli children have cellphones that can only make calls to the numbers their parents approve, and I don't believe they can make outgoing calls to anyone but the approved numbers.

 

Originally Posted By melekalikimaka

I would probably use it. (My 13 year old son is bipolar.)

 

Originally Posted By itsme

No.

I'm getting sick of the yahoos that feel the need to tell me HOW to raise my children.

If something needs to be censored, I will be the judge of that.

And if i need to spy on them to see where they are then im not parenting the way i should.

 

Originally Posted By melekalikimaka

It's not every phone. You'd have a choice of whether or not you wanted that particular model.

In my case my parenting skills have NOTHING to do with it. It's about being able to find my son if he's in a manic state.

Do you remember being a teenager? No matter how good some parents are, kids are going to do *something* to rebel.

 

Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan

I don't get this.

I'm no technological genius, but I'm thinking that if I am Little Billy Badenov, I take my tracking cellphone with me to Jacob's house, as that's where I said I would be. I set the phone down someplace in Jacob's room, switch off the ringer, then Jacob and I run off to wherever we want. Meanwhile, my parents think I am at Jacob's doing my homework, not knowing I am out robbing a convenience store or something.

"Why didn't you answer when we called!?" my parents might inquire later.

"Oh, I had to shut off the ringer. Jacob's dad was sleeping."

 

Originally Posted By melekalikimaka

That's when you call Jacob's parents. ;-)

 

Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan

Jacob's parents get part of the take. They won't rat me out.

 

Originally Posted By melekalikimaka

LOL!

 

Originally Posted By RoadTrip

Motorola must be the world's most stupid company. I will have to remember to never buy anything they manufacture.

Do they know NOTHING about teenagers?

You tell your parents you are going over to your friend Zack's house for the evening. Your parents like Zack. His dad is a minister, and Zack is a straight A student and president of the Student Council. You like Zack too... he comes in handy at times.

So you go over to Zack's house and drop off your cell phone. He's agreed to baby-sit it for you for $10. Then you head out do some Ecstasy at your friendly neighborhood rave. Yea, Motorola... that will work REAL well.

 

Originally Posted By RoadTrip

Oops...

Kar2oonMan WAY beat me on this one!!

 

Originally Posted By melekalikimaka

I'm ALWAYS suspicious of children of pastors/ministers/priests. They often rebel the most.

Did we learn nothing from Footloose? (Paula Poundstone joke)

 

Originally Posted By Lisann22

Ah, just put a chip in every kid like we do our pets. You can track them on line. When they reach for the joint, the tab, the drink - you can zap them with electronic lasers inside the chip. They pass out right there on the spot. You go collect them up. Between the humiliation and constant zapping they should either fall in line or end up so fried you just pay to put them away till their an adult and not your responsibility anymore.

 

Originally Posted By TomSawyer

Better yet, drop the phone off wherever you told your parents you would be, but forward the calls to your bad influence's cell phone.

Mom and dad see that you're still at the library, and when they call you pick up. They feel a false sense of security while you are asking the unshaven slightly smelly gentleman outside the Quickie Mart to get that 40 of Olde English 800 for you.

 

Originally Posted By melekalikimaka

I also know that most teenagers LOVE their cellphones and rarely want to go anywhere without them. If your kid always seems to have their phone turned off then that's another way to tell if they're doing something they shouldn't be doing.

 

Originally Posted By TomSawyer

If my kid ends up in jail, I get to keep her college fund. Ka-ching!

 

Originally Posted By melekalikimaka

Maybe Motorola will take out the "forward call" feature too.

 

Originally Posted By kramer222

You remember when parents used to sit down and *talk* to their kids? How about some developmental parenting, to avoid the need to track your children like a bomb.

 

Originally Posted By Lisann22

Well, now see there's another concept... the chip is a bomb...a neat way to threaten your kids to do right.

You get 5 zaps and then I just neutralize your ....!

 

Originally Posted By melekalikimaka

Gee, I never thought about talking with my kid. Maybe one more lecture will cure his mental illness.