Sprint Nextel says it is the first U.S. wireless carrier to offer a consumer-focused LBS application that enables a parent to use a phone or PC to pinpoint the location of a child on a map along with the address, surrounding landmarks and accuracy of the information within a specified radius. The news comes on the heals of Disney's MVNO service that will allow parents to track their children's whereabouts. One interesting feature is called the "safety check," which allows parents or guardians to set alerts to notify them when the child arrives at a specified location such as school or home. I agree with what the folks at Techdirt are saying about these services. Parents may be getting a false sense of security, and it's not clear how this actually makes kids safer since they can always power their devices off.
To read more about Sprint Nextel's consumer LBS offering:
- check out this release from the company