Are there settings that can you block access inappropriate websites on this new phone? can you on the old htc ppc 6800?? I sold the old HTC 6800 to a customer and they were curious about this b/c they have kids in the house.

Welcome to the Connection, MeSME, and thanks for the interesting question. Strangely, I am not aware of any "parental controls" or filtering options available for Windows Mobile, although you would think someone would have created a third-party app that does just what you're describing. One issue could be that some of the burden would probably have to be on the mobile operators themselves, since in the US, at least, they typically control how a smartphone connects to the Internet...

[EDIT: Another thought occurs to me: I wonder if we're just thinking ahead of the marketplace, MeSME? Right now, smartphones of any kind - with real Web browsing, etc. - account for a relatively small percentage of the phone market worldwide, and most "dumb" phones have only started getting decent Web browsing in the past year or two. Perhaps as that market grows we'll see more Internet solutions...?]

Anyone else have ideas?

Dave Parker MVP:

Hi MeSME,

Where are you from? In the UK I think all the major operators offer a free service on their internet bundles that restricts the usage to child friendly sites only. Is it worth speaking to your SP?

Bill Fisher:

Thanks, Dave - I knew someone would have more info on this. I had a suspicion that carriers might offer Web filtering, but I was having difficulty finding any details...

[Moved this discussion from Devices.]

Thanks to Dave's tip, I was able to find a little more information about the issue in the U.S., at least for AT&T. They have a "MEdia Net Parental Controls" program, which allows parents to control their kids' access to AT&T's WAP portal, MEdia Net. It's a very basic sort of filtering, however - you can limit access to things within the portal, and you can completely shut off access to the wider Internet, but that's about it.

For Sprint, I found something they call 'Parental Controls" for wireless Web access, but it does not appear to work for smartphones.

Verizon appears to have a fairly comprehensive parental control service, including usage controls and content filters.

.....and for the UK all of the major operators have signed up for Content control.  See here:

http://www1.orange.co.uk/documents/regulatory_affairs/uk_code_of_practice_self_regulation.pdf

My daughter is only 4 weeks old now, but I think this is really important. The internet is a minefield. You wouldn't dream of allowing a child unfettered broadband access and yet people often forget that mobiles these days have the same functionality.

Congratulations Dave on your new daughter.

Thanks Laura. It's been a tiring couple of weeks.

CONGRATULATIONS DAVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll upload you a couple of cases of Diapers!

Thanks mate, we're going through plenty.

Im sorry for the delayed response, this is actually a response to everyone. I am in the U.S., but i work for US Cellular in the midwest. Thanks for your different researches and thoughts! I appreciate it!

Congrats on the baby! The first 3months for us were hard, no sleep, maybe 2hrs a night if that. =] It gets better after that!