Mobile operators are making their forays into the consumer location-based services market by targeting parents who want to keep tabs on their kids. Verizon Wireless today announced Chaperone, a service that lets parents use a mobile phone or web-based account to locate their kids' handset. A premium feature allows parents to construct a geographical zone that kids are allowed to roam about in. Once they leave the zone, parents are notified via text message. Verizon's offering follows similar offerings from the soon-to-be-launched MVNO Disney Mobile and Sprint Nextel. Will this jump-start the consumer market for LBS services? I have a feeling a lot of kids will somehow lose their phones.
To read more about Verizon Wireless' new child tracking service:
- check out this TMCNet article