KDDI Corp. has developed two mobile phone models for children that allow their parents to locate them even when the phone is turned off, company officials said.

Children can send emergency e-mails to their parents simply by pushing a button on their mobile phones, allowing their guardians to trace their movements using the global positioning system (GPS).

When the phones are switched off, their cameras will automatically activate, taking photos and sending them to their parents by e-mail. Furthermore, their parents can confirm the position of their children, using a GPS, every minute over a two-hour period after the phones are switched off.

Moreover, the phones can be set to report their users’ positions at preset times.

The phones are expected to be priced at about 10,000 yen and the minimum monthly fee for the services will be 1,890 yen.

(毎日インタラクティブ)