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.
Filed under: Cellphones
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
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