Access controls and classification
Access controls on Vodafone live!
All our operating companies that offer age-restricted content on the Vodafone live! portal offer controls to prevent children accessing 18-rated content. The type of access controls varies in different markets according to local conditions. Some require users to verify their age as 18 or over. Others enable parents to select a profile for their child that removes 18-rated content.
Internet filters on the worldwide web
Our internet filter helps parents to prevent their children accessing inappropriate age-restricted content on the internet via their mobile phones. It is already offered by operating companies in Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Spain and the UK, and other operating companies have set targets to introduce the filter. The Czech Republic offers a similar solution.
Limited child profiles
Mobile internet use is rapidly growing, with many popular social networking websites available via mobile. We cannot control the content that appears on these sites, but we are looking at ways of enabling parents to set the profile of their child’s phone to limit access to such sites.
For example, Vodafone Ireland offers a Vodafone Safety Net universal profile for all customers registered as under-18. This gives them access only to content that is suitable for all ages unless they verify they are over 18 years old. A teen profile has also been introduced in Ireland, enabling teenagers to access services such as social networking sites while still protecting them from over-18 services such as online gambling. These features are available to all users of the Vodafone Ireland network on any handset.
Children's phone with limited features
We have launched mobile phones designed specifically for children in Italy, Portugal and Spain. These phones enable parents to keep in touch and protect their children by controlling how they use their mobile. Children can contact their parents by pushing a single button. Incoming and outgoing calls and text messages are restricted to numbers already saved in the phone's contact list.
The phones have no browsing capabilities, preventing children accessing the internet via their mobile. They have a simple, practical design that appeals to children and users can choose from a range of colourful covers featuring popular Disney characters. A guide to responsible use for parents and children is included with each handset sold.
Home broadband services
Vodafone has introduced home broadband internet services in ten local operating companies: Portugal, Spain, Ireland, the UK, Italy, Germany, The Netherlands, Greece, Egypt and New Zealand. This new area of our business will bring new challenges and we are developing Group guidelines on home broadband services to ensure our Content Standards are upheld, to be completed by March 2009.