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30.06.2009 Technology

The Truth About 'Phones For Four-Year-Olds'

30.06.2009 LISTEN
By Daily Guide

A woman who plans to sell mobile phones aimed at young children in the UK has denied a flurry of media reports that she is targeting four-year-olds. Speaking to Sky News Online, mother-of-three Frances Crean said the majority of the youngsters who currently used the Firefly phone in Ireland were aged eight to 12.

Although she did not put a minimum age on who the brightly coloured mobile was suitable for, she said it was ultimately up to the parents to decide.

The phone, which looks like a toy, has just five buttons, including two which call mum and dad directly.

It comes as new research shows more than half of under-10s now own a mobile.

The reports of young children as young as four being targeted has led to criticism from parents groups, who have expressed "strong concerns" about parental responsibility.

Aine Lynch, chief executive of National Parent Council Primary, said she was worried that young children who have the phone may not interact with other adults if they are being supervised by someone other than their parents.

She said: "What happens if they're not happy and they don't get through to the parent. It may not encourage children to talk to other adults."

Mrs Crean said she came up with the idea to market the US phone after her daughter had a health scare.

She said: "She was six at the time and attending a day camp.

"Nobody had contacted us to inform us that she was unwell and when she was collected we realised she was very ill and needed to be rushed to hospital.

"She had all the symptoms of meningitis, every parent's worse fear. We were one of the lucky ones - and thankfully we got the all clear."

Mrs Crean said the point of the phone is that youngsters have a device that is safe for them to use and which allows them to contact parents should the need arise.

It means her nine-year-old daughter can call her and tell her that she is running late from school, or if she wants to go and see friends.

She also said the phone is PIN-protected so children can only receive and make calls from people whose numbers have been pre-programmed in.

Mrs Crean, who runs her company with her husband Kevin, said at the moment some children use handsets "very inappropriately".

She argued that her phone stops this from happening. Some models do not allow children to text, she added.

She hopes to begin selling the phone in the UK later this year.

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