Crackdown on mobile services aimed at kids

MPs are being urged to crackdown on plans by mobile phone companies to target children with new phone services. Two of the largest UK phone companies, Orange and O2 are currently looking at ways of extending the service they offer to children. Orange, The Times reports, is considering a UK launch of the French children's service it currently offers which ' allows children to download pictures to their phones, create a virtual "bedroom" and engage in online "chat" communities and competitions.' O2 is in talks with Disney over offering Disney content on its phones.

Phil Willis, chairman of the All-Party Mobile Group, told The Times of its concern that marketing to children would breach the UK code on selling mobile phone services to children. 'Whether they are directly marketing is pure semantics at the end of the day. If they are selling services that are attractive to children, then that is against the spirit of the code and the Government has a duty to regulate where the industry cannot self-regulate.'

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