KidsOK - yet another cellphone-based kid-tracker

Seems like it won't be long until just about every parent is using some sort of cellphone/RFID/GPS solution to keep track of their kids. The latest to hit the market is the KidsOK system, which uses GSM triangulation to locate kids via their cellphones. Parents can ping the phone by sending a text message to a server, which then locates the phone and unobtrusively sends a message back to the parents. The system is available in the U.K. now with service plans starting at £39.95 per year. Of course, for a system like this to work, the kids need to have their phones with them and turned on at all times. That's why we favor implants, instead.

[Paul @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

When have you ever seen a kid WITHOUT their cellphone on and glued to them, especially teenage girls.

[vek @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

The potential abuse possibilities are endless...Just imagine being able to do this for any cell phone number :-P

[Chat Mauve @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

In reply to Vek :
Indeed, all active cellphones ARE tracked (at least in France) and their location logged by the mobile telcos (it's mandatory).
Many criminals have been identified just because the police was able to prove they were on the spot on time.
If you are about to commit a crime, shut off your bugger...

[Faf @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

there was a similar service offered by the carphone warehouse (through one its partners) a while ago, i dont think it caught on well

if its anything like the CPW service, it needs to be activated on the phone being tracked

and can also be de-activated there as well. the weakest point therefore will be the company running the service's servers...

i'm sure they'll have at least one version of their software that allows tracking without authorisation

[Faf @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

there was a similar service offered by the carphone warehouse (through one its partners) a while ago, i dont think it caught on well

if its anything like the CPW service, it needs to be activated on the phone being tracked

and can also be de-activated there as well. the weakest point therefore will be the company running the service's servers...

i'm sure they'll have at least one version of their software that allows tracking without authorisation

[Marcus Bicknell @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Interesting comments by vek and faf. To be able to locate a child of 16 or less, all UK companies (like KidsOK) have to comply with the Home Office code of practice. We check the address the applicant gives against the credit card address and the census address to check they are who they say they are, then post the validation code to them before they can first use it. It is extremely difficult to abuse the system. Then the kid has to agree, once, to be located, and is reminded every month that they can be located and that they can turn it off. As for sales success, KidsOK is the first to be packaged up as a mass consumer product... available Boots, Bhs, Outfit, Millets, Blacks, The Link, soon Comet, WH Smith, Debenhams etc