OVERLAND PARK, Kan. and CHATSWORTH, CA. ? 06/29/2006
To help parents stay connected with their children and maintain some control of their children's wireless phone usage, Sprint (NYSE: S) and SANYO (NASDAQ: SANYY) today introduce the Sprint PCS Vision® Phone SCP-2400 by SANYO.
This phone offers a free parental control feature, allowing parents to easily manage whom the child calls and who can call the child. A parent simply enters the phone numbers of those individuals the child is permitted to call and/or receive calls from in the phone's address book, and then clicks on the Parental Control icon on the main menu to limit use to Phone Book Only for both incoming and/or outgoing direct calls. After the parent limits the phone's use in this way, other phone numbers would be restricted. Parents can also lock services like Sprint PCS Ready Link and Sprint PCS Vision, which can help the child to avoid data charges that may not be included as part of the families' wireless pricing plan.
In addition to the parental usage control feature, this affordable phone will be offered in stylish colors (Silver Sky, Midnight Black, Dark Bronze, True Blue and Misty Rose) that appeal to "tweens" and teens. The SCP-2400 by SANYO supports Sprint PCS Vision®, Sprint PCS Ready Link®, SMS Voice and Text Messaging, and Wireless Backup. An optional accessory pack will be available to complement the phone, including a Quick Start Guide for setting restrictions on the phone, a gift card for a customizable "skin" (i.e. sticker) for the child to outfit the phone, and a backpack clip for the child to secure the phone while on the go.
"Parents want the ability to stay connected with their children as they become more mobile. They also want peace of mind knowing they can maintain some control of their child's wireless usage and spending," said Danny Bowman, vice president of product marketing for Sprint. "The SCP-2400 by SANYO is a great option for parents, as it allows parents to quickly set restrictions on the phone, and its flexibility allows parents to customize their settings to meet the specific needs of each child or modify restrictions as their needs change over time."
"IDC research indicates that the trend of parents providing cell phones to younger age groups, increasingly 10-14-year-olds, will continue based on the popularity and affordability of family share plans and the general 'always in touch' value proposition of wireless that resonates well with parents," said Scott A. Ellison, vice president of wireless and mobile communications for IDC.
"The parental control feature on the SCP-2400 is designed to assist parents, and it can be used as a tool to help teach children wireless usage responsibility. The controls are simple for the parent to manage and select services can be turned on or off as the parent wishes," said Andy Kodera, senior vice president and general manager of SANYO Fisher Company's Wireless Communications Division. "Also, the colors and high quality speakerphone will appeal to tweens and teens," Kodera added.
In addition to the SCP-2400 by SANYO, Sprint offers family-friendly services such as Sprint Family Locator, a location-based service that uses GPS technology to enable a parent to locate up to four of his or her children's devices, such as the SCP-2400 by SANYO, by using a compatible Sprint phone or a PC. Once a child is located using the service, the child receives a text message notification that the phone has been located, and the parent is provided a map along with the address, surrounding landmarks, and accuracy of the location within a specified radius. Sprint Family Locator is permission based and password protected and is a service that supports open communication between a parent and child. For more information on compatible phones or Sprint Family Locator, visit sprint.com/familylocator.
The SCP-2400 by SANYO will be available in early July for $179.99, or $29.99 after rebate with a two-year subscriber agreement. To complement the phone, an optional accessory pack will be available for $14.99.
