The executive team at cellphone management company Tariffic has created a new division, KidTech, which offers "safe" cellphones for school kids.
KidTech provides a cellphone contract and smartphone with pre-installed parental control apps and educational games.
The parental controls block harmful Web sites and apps, protect children from cyber bullying and sexually-inappropriate behaviour, and allow parents to control when and how the cellphone is used.
Parents can also track their kids' whereabouts at any time and receive alerts when their youngsters leave a designated area (such as your home or school).
"The idea came from witnessing arguments about cellphones between kids who want cellphones and parents who are worried about their kids being exposed to all the negatives that cellphones can introduce," explains Tariffic CEO Antony Seeff.
KidTech co-founder Nic Botes says the software is pivotal in preventing bullying and sexually-inappropriate conversations. One of the pre-installed apps helps parents identify if their kids are being the victims of cyber bullying by monitoring all WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger messages and alerting parents the moment certain bullying keywords are used.
"In addition, all photos taken on the phone are backed-up and shared with parents, so parents can identify any worrying behaviour before it's too late," Botes says.
"The stories that we're hearing about what young kids are getting up to on their cellphones is frightening," adds Toma Batev, another of KidTech's founders.
"There are many reports of kids under 10 sending nude photos of themselves, and becoming suicidal after being cyber bullied online. Parents need to be able to protect their children from these dangers."
KidTech does not believe that not giving children phones is a realistic answer; rather it aims to give them the right phones with the correct safeguards and protections.
"Children want to be connected and parents want to be responsible and protect their children; and that is why KidTech is on a mission to ensure your children can be young, connected and engaging, while being safe and protected from the dangers of the world that wait beyond," adds Seeff.
"We have been in the cellular industry for the past 12 years, and, as part of our Tariffic business, we have developed technology to help companies find their perfect cellphone contracts and manage their cellphone spend. We have leveraged this technology to help identify the optimal cellphone contract for kids."
Seeff says the KidTech contract comes with 1GB of data and free WhatsApp. It is also a top-up contract, so parents can top up with prepaid airtime or data as needed, and parents won't be at risk of bill shock at the end of the month.
The cellphones offered are Huawei P8 Lite smartphones and come with a cellphone case and free KidTech stickers to decorate the case. KidTech users can also phone friends who have KidTech phones free of charge.
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