Acision, Echometrix Tackle Cyberbullying
Acision, a world leader in mobile data, and Echometrix, Inc. (OTCBB: EHMI), a leader in online family safety technology, today announced an alliance to deliver a breakthrough parental control solution available to mobile operators, addressing concerns among subscribers over cyberbullying, and other high-risk mobile text communications. The solution will be the first network-based, universal parental text monitoring system which works with all text messaging enabled mobile phones.
The two companies are working together through the Acision Innovation Network to provide an integrated offering for advanced parental control that is unique in today’s mobile marketplace. The solution enables operators to offer services such as monitoring and alerts to parents when a child encounters questionable messages. The joint solution is based on Acision’s Message Plus platform and Echometrix’s FamilySafe technology. Acision’s Message Plus platform enables operators to personalize the messaging experience, a capability that is generally not available in today’s mobile messaging solutions. Echometrix’s FamilySafe technology developed in cooperation with the AmberWatch Foundation enhances the parental control feature set on Acision’s Message Plus platform by identifying whether sent and received messages contain inappropriate or potentially harmful content.
Consumer research commissioned by Acision showed that the majority of parents (82 percent) would like to have more control over when their child can send messages, what content they can send and receive, and with whom their child is exchanging mobile messages. Over half (57 percent) of the parents surveyed would be more likely to let their child have a mobile phone if more control features were offered by carriers. Offering parental control features will potentially have operators looking at a significant increase in mobile phone adoption among teenagers and more noteworthy, pre-teens.
“With the rise of cyberbullying, and other forms of inappropriate messaging, it is increasingly important that individuals, particularly parents, have control over mobile messaging usage to help prevent abuse,” said Taco Schoute, Head of Messaging at Acision. “Acision is taking steps to continuously improve the ability to personally control the messaging experience, both for themselves and their children. Working with a leader in parental control and online protection to deliver a universal solution is regarded a major leap forward and offers operators the ability to better protect the younger subscribers and give families more peace of mind.”