Kid-tracking mobile launched

Japanese mobile giant NTT DoCoMo has launched a new phone designed to fit children's hands and a service to go with it that will report its user's location to his or her parents.

The 3G kid-centric phone – the SA800i – comes with a 100 decibel emergency alarm built-in, as well as the location tracking service. The service emails the child's whereabouts to its parents, using the i-mode enabled phone, at intervals between 15 and 60 minutes apart, even if the phone is switched off.

Parents can also conduct periodic location searches using their PCs and the service, which costs ¥210 or roughly £1 per month, can also be set up to alert them if their child goes into pre-set 'no-go' areas.

The service, called imadoco – Japanese for 'where are you now?' – can't be turned off without a password being entered into the handset. Parents can also use a password to lock all of the phone's security settings.

Attempts to disable the tracking service by taking out the battery are also fruitless as it can only be removed with a 'special tool' DoCoMo said.

As well as containing child-orientated security features, the phone is also designed with children in mind. On screen instructions are written in simplified language and the handset comes with children's i-mode, which prevents a user viewing mobile internet sites with adult content.