19 June, 2007

It sounds like a parent's dream-come-true, new software for mobile phones that helps to protect children from dangers such as text bullying, chat rooms, adult material and unwanted contact by adults.

Now NZ-based CellChek.com have created such a program and even better, it's free. The software can be installed on a child's phone and controlled using a website which only the parent has access to.

Through the website parents can control features such as:

• setting up an approved contact list which limits who can call or send text messages to the phone.
• limiting internet access on the phone.
• getting reports on who attempts to contact the phone, including details of SMS content.
• setting restrictions on when the phone can be used.

The developer of CellChek is currently searching for people to test out the new software so that bugs can be ironed out before releasing the full version later in the year. For information on signing up to the beta-test group, along with information on which models of cellphone are compatible, check out the CellChek website