Smart, Vodafone promote responsible use of smartphones among children

MANILA, Philippines - Having a smartphone means more exciting and creative options for you to stay in touch with your loved ones. More than just a communication tool, the smartphone is now an all-in-one device for entertainment, education, productivity, health and fitness, and a lot more.

Smartphones today have become so user-friendly that even children can master their functions and apps in a matter of hours. In fact, these days, it’s the children who teach their parents the tips and tricks on making the most of these wireless wonders.

Smart Communications Inc. predicts that with low-cost smartphones available in the market, more and more young Filipinos will have access to these new-generation devices.

Smart partnered with worldwide mobile telecom leader Vodafone in promoting safe and responsible use of smartphones to protect children and free their parents from worries.

“We give our children smartphones because as parents, we would like to stay in touch with our kids for peace of mind and for constant openness and communication,” said Kathy Carag, head of Smart’s postpaid business group.

“Along with handing our kids these gadgets comes our responsibility as parents to teach them proper smartphone use, but we cannot be with them all the time physically to guide them. Now, there’s a way to give them a safe smartphone experience anytime, anywhere,” Carag added.

Smart and Vodafone recently introduced in the country the Vodafone Guardian app — a free Android app designed to give parents the power to choose the best possible smartphone settings for their children.

Smart is among the first operators in Asia to bring the app to its subscribers.

Using the app, parents can set call and SMS permissions and filter the contacts to avoid interaction with strangers. This way, they avoid the threats of mobile or cyber bullying, or being scammed by unscrupulous texters or callers.

With the Vodafone Guardian app, parents can also block certain features (games, camera, apps) at certain times (like school hours), password-protect some settings, and more. The settings are flexible so parents can decide which set-up is best for their child.

Lisa Felton, Vodafone Group’s head of consumer policy and content standards, said, “The principle behind the Vodafone Guardian App is not just blocking phone function and apps and deciding for your children what they can and cannot do with their smartphones. It is about empowering children to gradually extend their online boundaries in a safe way. It reflects our aim to give parents the tools and information they need to teach their children to use the Internet responsibly.”

Initially, the Vodafone Guardian app is exclusively available to smartphones bundled with Smart’s Family Ties Plan.

“Safe and responsible smartphone use is our advocacy and it is just perfect that we are offering the Vodafone Guardian app pre-installed in smartphones that we are bundling with the Smart Family Ties Plan — Smart’s newest postpaid plan that promotes stronger family ties through three lines, three free smartphones under one plan,” Carag said.

For just P900 a month, you can keep your family close whether by calls, texts or online. Smart Family Ties Plan 900 provides all three lines, monthly credits of unlimited calls and text messages to family members, unlimited text to all Smart subscribers, 200 all-net text messages, and 100MB of data.

It is also available at Plan 1800, which expands unlimited calls and text messages to all Smart subscribers and bumps up data allocation to 300MB per month, per member. Additional lines for up to six total members can be availed of for both plans.

To learn more about Smart’s Family Ties Plan and the Vodafone Guardian app, visit www.smart.com.ph/postpaid. To subscribe, visit the Smart Store nearest you.