Verizon Announce Chaperone (GPS Locator)

location based services


Verizon Wireless Launches “Chaperone” Service – A Great Tool To Keep Your Family In Touch Now At Your Fingertips – Location Information To Help Keep In Touch With Your Child From Your Verizon Wireless Mobile Phone And PC 06/12/2006 BASKING RIDGE, NJ -- Sometimes even “Super Mom” needs some help keeping the family connected, especially when work and after-school commitments pull families in several different directions throughout the day. That’s why Verizon Wireless is continuing to lead the industry in offering innovative new services that improve Americans’ lives by launching Chaperone(SM) – services that give parents new tools to help identify the whereabouts of their young children’s LG Migo phones, while also providing a means of communication by allowing children to place calls to important contacts with the simple touch of a button on their funky green LG Migo phones. Based on Global Positioning System (GPS) data, Chaperone is designed to supplement the parameters parents have already established with their children with two options, Chaperone Child Locator and Chaperone with Child Zone(SM). The availability of Chaperone with Child Zone marks the first time a wireless service allows parents to establish predetermined areas in which a child can travel with their Migo phone and automatically alert the parent about the location of the device when it enters or leaves the defined area. Features of these services include: - Chaperone Child Locator – Once the child is equipped with a new or updated Migo phone and the service is activated on the account, parents can locate their child’s Migo phone from a PC via the Chaperone Web site (www.VerizonWireless.com/Chaperone). Optionally, parents can download the Chaperone application from the Get It Now® virtual store, at no charge, to conduct single location requests for the Migo phone directly from the parent’s Verizon Wireless phone. The Chaperone application for parents is available for use on a growing number of Get It Now-enabled phones. Using this service, parents can: - Perform single location requests of the Migo phone’s whereabouts and display the location of the Migo phone on a map via the Chaperone Web site or the parent’s Verizon Wireless phone - Program the Migo phone’s automatic calling buttons over the air from the Chaperone Web site - Customize Chaperone settings, including ‘English’ or ‘Spanish’ language, creating a unique name for the child’s Migo phone and enabling or disabling the emergency calling button - Chaperone with Child Zone – Using the Chaperone Web site, a parent can construct an area called a Child Zone around the vicinity of locations that their child frequents (such as school, playgrounds or daycare centers). Different locations can be “zoned” for one time, always on, or for up to 24 hours. When the child arrives or leaves the predetermined area with their Migo phone, the parent is alerted via TXT Message on their Verizon Wireless phone. Additionally, the Migo phone allows a child to be in quick contact with their parents or other relatives by pressing one of four buttons to speed dial loved ones when the buttons are programmed by their parents, whether they are calling just to say “hello” or in the event a problem occurs. Designed for family communication, the Migo phone allows parents to program up to four important phone numbers, like their home, mobile or work numbers, emergency services, a babysitter or a grandparent, then children can speed dial these “helpers” with the simple touch of a button. Safety and Security Come First As a protection against deliberate misuse of the service, Verizon Wireless will sell Chaperone and Chaperone with Child Zone services, through its 2,100 Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and Circuit City retail locations nationwide, through verified agents and through its telesales group. Chaperone is not available for purchase over the Internet. Importantly, Chaperone is only available to Verizon Wireless customers on a Family Share Plan® to help restrict unauthorized use of the service. According to Lee Daniels, director of product development for Verizon Wireless, Chaperone is a service designed for busy families to keep their lines of communication open, while also helping parents give their children more freedom by giving them a tool to be in touch. “Chaperone provides a connection between parents and their children when they aren’t physically together, and it gives parents an added tool for keeping in contact with their children. If the unexpected happens, a child carrying a Chaperone-enabled Migo phone will be able to quickly get in touch with parents or another responsible adult – and even emergency personnel – who can help,” said Daniels. “It’s just one of the ways that Verizon Wireless is leveraging location-based technology to provide our customers with services that are relevant to their lives.” Location Based Services (LBS) are enabled by the enhancements Verizon Wireless has made to its award-winning wireless network, allowing consumers to access new services utilizing new GPS data and navigational information which includes VZ Navigator(SM), a tool that provides consumers with access to mapping, audible turn-by-turn directions and the ability to find over 14 million points of interest, and now includes Chaperone. Using GPS and Verizon Wireless’ network, LBS services securely communicates valuable location information across the wireless network based on specific privacy settings that are established by the users and by the network. In order to access Chaperone, a Verizon Wireless customer must subscribe to Chaperone and then activate the service through a secure, password protected Web site. Specific educational materials and terms of use are available to customers and were designed to assist parents and children use Chaperone in an informed and responsible manner. Chaperone is only available to Verizon Wireless customers on a Family Share Plan to help restrict unauthorized use of the service. Chaperone Purchase and Pricing To purchase Chaperone, parents first need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Family Share Plan and must have a Migo phone on that account. Parents can add the basic Chaperone Child Locator for $9.99 monthly access per line or add Chaperone Child Locator and Chaperone with Child Zone for $19.99 monthly access per line. Devices The Migo phone is specifically designed for the capabilities and tastes of young children (between five and nine years old). With its striking green handset, the Migo phone has four programmable call buttons and one pre-programmed emergency call button, making it easy for children to call responsible adults quickly. Parents can easily program the call buttons using the Chaperone Web site. The Migo phone is available from Verizon Wireless for $49.99 with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers who previously purchased a Migo phone and would like to experience the benefits of Chaperone can stop into a Verizon Wireless Communications Store with their Migo phone and receive a free software upgrade which is required to activate the service. Available Parent Devices Parents who want to access location information about their children via their Verizon Wireless handset have a variety of devices to choose from, including the LBS-capable The V (LG VX9800) and Motorola V3c RAZR. Additional non-LBS-capable devices include: the LG VX4700, LG VX6100, LG VX7000, LG VX8100, LG VX5200, the Motorola E815, Samsung SCH-a970 and the Samsung SCH-a950. Information about these handsets is available on the Verizon Wireless Web site at www.VerizonWireless.com/Chaperone. MichaelSite AdminJoined: 13 Jan 2005Posts: 2496Location: Chicago, IL
Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 9:30 am Post subject:

For this to be real successful, Verizon needs to expand this service to more than just the Migo Phone. Since, 95% of all Verizon phones are GPS capable, it would be very cool to allow this to work on all Verizon Phones

horsessmellfunnyJoined: 03 Feb 2006Posts: 213Location: L-Spur CO
Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 10:48 am Post subject:

Sprint along with Nextel has been offering a service similar to this for quite awhile. It is called "Sprint Family Locator". Works just about the same, but there are specific phone models. I will have to try to dig up the link. I hate moving around Sprint's website._________________Good stuff