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Education Apps Review (IEAR), a Community Effort to Grade "Educational Apps", recently published their Podcast show hosted by Scot Meech with co-hosts, Susan Wells and Judi Epcke.  Please enjoy their podcast show on the importance of 1 to 1 learning programs. 

Susan Wells, Culbreth Middle School Principal, shares how her school has successfully put an iPod Touch in every child's hand at their school in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.   Susan also brings up the Mobicip application and how our application has helped her reach her goal.

Mobicip's dynamic content filtering technology helps educators and parents protect their children from a new wave of Internet hazards stemming from mobility so they can learn and love the mobile web. Mobile Internet devices like the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad are highly capable computers that contain browsers that can find anything on the Internet—irrespective of whether or not the content is appropriate for the child browsing or learning. 

The StarTribune.com recently published an interesting article, appropriately titled "Parents: Are you a high-tech snoop?".  The author, Suzanne Ziegler, states: " Parents who are finding themselves outgunned by tech-savvy tweens and teens are looking for ways stay on top of what their kids are doing online. It's daunting for parents, who grew up when snooping was a matter of picking up the other phone line to listen in or finding where a diary had been hidden. Now, a growing number of devices -- including phones and laptops -- let their children access the Internet anywhere, anytime. So, tech companies are responding by developing a growing arsenal of spy gear -- aimed at parents -- that's cheaper and easier to use.

We agree with Suzanne and we appreciate her featuring Mobicip as Spy Gear for Parents. Educators and Parents choose Mobicip's app to ensure their mobile kids use their mobile devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, etc) safely and securely.

Education Apps Review (IEAR.org) recently posted a review about Mobicip, their review is below and can be found on the IEAR blog.  In their review, IEAR shares the overall educational value of Mobicip: "This app is very important for education because it allows schools to send the devices home without having to worry about what the student may access."  Thank you IEAR.org!

IEAR Review: 
"Purpose: This app is essential for schools that send the iPod touch home with students.  Mobicip is a safe Internet browser that replaces Safari on the iPods interface.  Instead of Safari, students click on the Mobicip icon to access the Internet.  The functionality is the same as Safari but students now only have access to safe sites.  Teachers and administrators can set the filtering level based upon the age of the student.

In addition to the basic app, teachers also have the ability to subscribe to the premium service ($9.99. annually), which allows for more customization.  Teachers can block or allow websites and categories on the device in order to have more control over what the student sees.  Teachers are also able to login to the Internet and view each device and monitor what sites the students have accessed.   There are also a number of reports that teachers can run that shows what types of sites are blocked and how often they were accessed.

Program Functionality: The navigation of Mobicip is essentially the same as Safari.  It is very easy to use.  Initially the teacher will need to set it up on the iPod so they can enter the login credentials.  This is done only once.  After this, the student can open the Mobicip icon and it will go straight to the Internet.

I especially like the bookmarks that come with Mobicip.  These are all safe and useful websites for the kids to access.

Overall Educational Value: This app is very important for education because it allows schools to send the devices home without having to worry about what the student may access."


 

Scott Meech, the founder of IEAR.org (Education Apps Review), recently featured Mobicip as a resource in an IEAR.org Classroom Live 2.0 Session. You can find his slides below as well as a link to his blog post: http://www.iear.org/iear/2010/8/14/classroom-20-live-session-8142010.html

Thousand Oaks, CA - Mobicip.com, the leading internet safety and parental control service for mobile devices like the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad is getting more and more adoption by family friendly groups, associations and organizations due to the rise in mobile web usage by their constituents.  Smart families use Mobicip to help keep the quality of content intact while making mobile learning a safe, secure, family-friendly experience that everyone can enjoy. Mobicip.com’s mobile application software provides the most comprehensive online content filtering service to protect kids and teens’ mobile experience.

“As a father of two, I personally understand the concern families have about the quality of content their kids and teens may access on mobile devices” says Suren Rammasubu, founder and CEO of Mobicip.com.  “We created the most intelligent content filtering technology so parents could allow their kids to use popular sites like Google but be able to screen inappropriate content that is not family-friendly.  We are seeing more family-focused groups like PTAs, church groups, etc. recommend our service due to the comprehensive technology, ease of use and controls, which makes me a proud family man.”

Mobicip's service is being used by thousands of parents around the world, and by many school districts to enable safe mobile learning in and out of the classroom. Comal Independent School District Teacher, Ann Jeanette Patton, shares: “Had we not had a restricted internet service like Mobicip, I wouldn’t have allowed them (the mobile devices) in the room as a tool, because of the monitoring that would have had to have occurred and plus they couldn’t have taken them (iPod's) home. So, I very much (sic) strongly affirm that Mobicip is an integral part of this process."

“The Mobicip Safe Browser's intuitive design is easy-to-use. It looks almost identical to the preferred Safari browser resident on many Apple products, says Teresa DiFalco, a reviewer for Parents’ Choice.” “Searches on inappropriate content produce a simple ‘access is denied’ message and a link to the Mobicip website where a parent or administrator can, if they desire, change the filtering level. There are three age-appropriate levels: elementary, middle school, and high school.”

Mobicip’s Safe Browser app for kids and teens is available on the iPhone App Store, and the service is available at www.mobicip.com.

About Mobicip’s Online Content Filtering for Family-Friendly Mobile Use
Mobicip is the most powerful Internet filtering and parental control software designed specifically to work with mobile devices.  Parents, educators and family friendly groups use Mobicip’s custom web filtering so kids and teens can use the internet safely, securely and specific to their age, interests and parent/educator requirements.  The Safe Browser iPhone app is the most popular parental control app on the iPhone App store.  Kids are mobile – parents use Mobicip to ensure their mobile kids are safely using their mobile devices, even without supervision.  Learn more about Mobicip at www.Mobicip.com.

This video shows you how to use your Mobicip.com Premium Web Monitor account to customize the Internet filtering to meet your specific needs.

This video shows how you can use Mobicip's Premium Web Monitor to keep an eye on your kids or students Internet activity on the iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad.
 

Mobicip Safe Browser was ranked #3 on the Babble Top 50 iPhone App for Moms list!  Mobicip was also ranked #1 in the Creative and Practical category.  Babble is the fastest growing website for moms, with over 4 millions moms visiting the hippest parenting site in the US every month. Here is a link to the review: http://www.babble.com/mom/parenting-top-50/50-best-iphone-apps-for-moms-safe-browser/ 

You can also read the review below:

"The Safe Browser from Mobicip gives you an alternative to Safari on your iPhone. It’s a fabulous way to monitor and restrict what your children are allowed to access on the internet via the phone. You can select a filtering level based on your child’s age, and each filtering level allows different types of content to come through the browser. The Elementary School level is the most restrictive, High School the least. The app uses real-time filtering in a way that doesn’t noticeably slow down the internet response time. Safe Browser comes with preset bookmarks to kid-friendly websites and your children can add in additional bookmarks of their own. They can perform Google searches, but the results are restricted by the safety filters that you have established. These features are all included in the price of the app. For an additional $9.99 a year, you can upgrade to a premium subscription, letting you control the Safe Browser restrictions through a website and monitor multiple users on multiple devices. You can blacklist certain websites and whitelist (permit) others. The premium subscription provides reports on the different users you are monitoring. You can see how long they were on the internet, what websites they visited, which ones were blocked and why they were blocked. Safe Browser gives you the ability to protect your children from the nasty side of the internet."

Thousand Oaks, CA - Mobicip.com, the leading internet safety and parental control service for mobile devices like the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad, received the prestigious 2010 Parents’ Choice Silver Honors Award as a top mobile application software serving children and protecting their mobile experience. Parents’ Choice has been reviewing and recommending quality children’s media for more than 32 years. According to leaders at Parents’ Choice, “not only is it clear that children must be adept in the traditional areas of learning, they must also be competent and skilled in the learning opportunities digital media provides.”

Parents’ Choice recognizes the best in children’s media.  They rate and award organizations with Gold, Silver and Bronze medals.  Mobicip’s mobile internet browsing security technology received the Silver honor with one or more of the evaluating groups at Parents’ Choice, a high prize for their child mobile internet safety technology’s production and human values.  Parents’ Choice honors are given to excellent media products that are designed to entertain and support globally ethical attitudes. Products are also awarded based on how they help children cultivate skills while maintaining rigorous product standards.

“This is a very prestigious recognition from an organization that, for years, has been such a trusted source of the best in children’s education and entertainment,” says Anitha Swaminathan, Director of Customer Experience at Mobicip.  “Parents need to be in the know about how to protect their kids who are mobile users and using them in mobile ways, without total parental supervision.  We are so impressed that Parents’ Choice has a mobile category to cater to the trends and are equally proud to have been a part of their rigorous screening process and recognition.”

“The Mobicip Safe Browser's intuitive design is easy-to-use. It looks almost identical to the preferred Safari browser resident on many Apple products,” says Teresa DiFalco, a reviewer for Parents’ Choice. “Searches on inappropriate content produce a simple "access is denied" message and a link to the Mobicip website where a parent or administrator can, if they desire, change the filtering level. There are three age-appropriate levels: elementary, middle school, and high school.”

"The way children, tweens and teens learn today is becoming more and more mobile.  Safe mobility fundamentally transforms how children learn and we are so pleased that Parents’ Choice sees our mobile app technology as playing a significant role in the process," says Suren Ramasubbu, Founder and CEO of Mobicip.com. "Mobicip's service is being used by thousands of parents around the world, and by several school districts.  This award is so appreciated.”

Parents’ Choice has been reviewing and recommending quality children’s media since 1978.  To learn more about Parents’ Choice, visit www.parents-choice.org

Mobicip’s Safe Browser app for kids and teens is available on the iPhone App Store, and the service is available at www.mobicip.com.

About Mobicip’s Mobile Application for Children and Online Content Filtering for Parents
Mobicip is the most powerful Internet filtering and parental control software designed specifically to work with mobile devices.  Parents and educators use Mobicip’s custom web filtering so kids and teens can use the internet safely, securely and specific to their age, interests and parent/educator requirements.  The Safe Browser iPhone app is the most popular parental control app on the iPhone App store.  Kids are mobile – parents use Mobicip to ensure their mobile kids are safely using their mobile devices, even without supervision.  Learn more about Mobicip at www.mobicip.com.
 

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (June 22, 2010) — Mobicip.com, the leader in online content filtering for the iPhone,  iPod Touch and iPad, was recognized by StartUpBusiness.com for its “new technology for new times”, making the Honorable Mention list. Mobicip’s superior online content filtering technology allows today’s mobile kids to safely use their favorite Internet-enabled devices like the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad, wherever they are.

“We are flattered by the mention and consider it quite a technological compliment,” says Suren Ramasubbu, founder and CEO of Mobicip. “Technological innovation is critical for the future, especially as children learn and play with mobile technologies.  Making technology easy for parents and educators as they deal with mobile and technically super-savvy kids is our goal – we think mobile safety is cool, we are pleased StartUpBusiness.com sees it as hot.”

Michael O’Donnell, who compiled the list of Hot Startup Companies says what makes companies make this list is, “In a word…..uptake. The founders are quick to learn from their customers and quick to get traction in the marketplace. They may not be profitable, but most are seeing double-digit growth each quarter. A hot startup is one that has a unique insight. It fills a need that is not being offered by any other company in the space. It is not a one trick pony. Its products or services are really useful -- even critical -- to its customers. The industries that these companies compete in are depending upon them to bring a new era of prosperity.” To see the list of Honorable Hot Startup Company Mention List, click here.

About Mobicip

Mobicip.com offers security software that ensures children and teens use the mobile web safely. Mobicip's dynamic content filtering technology helps parents protect their children in a web 2.0 world. Mobile Internet devices like the iPhone, iPod, iTouch and iPad are highly capable computers that contain browsers that can find anything on the Internet—irrespective of whether or not the content is appropriate for the children.  By delivering an online safety net through its parental control solution, Mobicip gives parents and educators the ability to safeguard their children on their favorite mobile devices. Mobicip does more than block website addresses; the software dynamically views the entire web page to determine if there is offensive content even on an allowed site based on the parent’s choices.  Mobicip Safe Browser is one of the top downloads available on the App Store and the premium content filtering service is available at www.mobicip.com.

Media Contact
Nicki Gauthier
Mobicip, LLC
501-I South Reino Rd. Ste 212
Newbury Park CA 91320
pr@mobicip.com
805-380-5687
http://www.mobicip.com/
 

Suren Ramasubbu, mobile Internet safety expert and CEO of Mobicip.com, the leader in Internet filtering and parental controls for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad shared the following about protecting your children's privacy online:

“While Apple and Google provide some of the most innovative tools for improving education and communication, they recently declined to participate in the Congressional hearing on children’s web privacy. With these 2 major players showing a lack of interest in protecting children's privacy online, it's more important than ever for parents and educators to be proactive and have the tools necessary to enable children to surf the web safely. As the web quickly becomes more mobile and accessible with the iPhone and iPod Touch, and now the iPad, parents will surely need help protecting their children from the new wave of Internet hazards stemming from mobility. Both parents and educators must take advantage of mobile Internet safety solutions that allow them to track usage, filter content, and ensure kids and teens can use the Internet safely and securely while on the go.”

Suren Ramasubbu, mobile Internet safety expert and CEO of Mobicip.com, the leader in Internet filtering and parental controls for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad shared the following about iPad's popularity:

“Apple’s iPad is selling faster than the iPhone and industry experts project that it will have sold 1.5 million units by June. While the iPad is a revolutionary device that will surely transform how kids and teens interact with the Internet and enhance the social and educational benefits of the Web, parents and educators need to be aware of the hazards that young people can encounter online. The potential perils especially affect young children and teens, who start using mobile devices much earlier than their parents, who need to know how to ensure that their kids learn safe and responsible use of all mobile devices.  With Apple’s iPad quickly becoming the fastest selling consumer product, parents of today’s mobile kids need to encourage positive dialogue about Internet safety. This includes taking advantage of mobile Internet safety solutions designed to ensure kids and teens are securely and responsibly using their iPhones – and now iPads -  wherever they go.”

Ann Jeanette Patton, a Comal Independent School District Teacher and an ELL and exploratory Spanish teacher at Mountain Valley Middle School in Canyon Lake, TX, gave a spontaneous and unsolicited testimonial about Mobicip's safe browser app!  Ms. Patton has over 30 years of teaching experience and we appreciate her taking the time to share the importance of educational institutions taking responsibility of their iPod Touches and iPhones educational programs so their students can safely use their mobile devices to learn.  Mobicip’s dynamic content filtering allows kids and teens to safely learn, love and use the mobile web - anytime, anywhere.

Ms. Patton shares: “I would like to comment on the importance of a restricted internet service, not parental controls, but Institutional controls on what students can get access to. Had we not had a restricted internet service like Mobicip, I wouldn’t have allowed them in the room as a tool, because of the monitoring that would have had to have occurred and plus they couldn’t have taken them (iPod's) home. So, I very much strongly affirm that Mobicip is an integral part of this process."
 

On Friday, April 23rd at 1:45 pm (PST), Suren Ramasubbu and Jennifer Wivagg will be presenting in the Learning Sharing Online Conference on the following topic: Individualized instruction and learning using the iPod Touch, to attend the session go here: http://knowevents.ca/course/view.php?id=11

During their presentation, they will also be reviewing how Mobicip's safe browser app helps parents take responsibility of the iPod Touches and iPhones so their kids can safely use their mobile devices.  They will also briefly review, Mobicip’s dynamic content filtering which allows kids and teens to safely learn, love and use the mobile web - anytime, anywhere. 

There is more information about the presentation below and here: http://knowevents.ca/user/view.php?id=77&course=1

Comal ISD in New Braunfels, TX, has implemented a 1:1 learning program using the Apple iPod Touch for its English language learners. Middle school students who participate in the program are each given an iPod Touch that contains apps, music, documents, presentations and instructional videos that allow the students to learn on their own time outside of school hours. Participants in this session will get an inside view of the program, how the program evolved from concept to reality, cover acceptable use policy, security and deployment management, and anecdotal evidence of the benefits derived by students participating in the program.

On Thursday, April 15th at 2:40 pm (EST), Lynne Goodhand and Susan Wells will be presenting in Second Life on the following topic: Education in Hand - Innovation with iPod Touches, to attend the session go here: http://conference.unctlt.org/program/index.php?sort=date&date=2010-04-15#1228

During their presentation, they will also be reviewing Mobicip’s dynamic content filtering which allows kids and teens to safely learn, love and use the mobile web - anytime, anywhere.  And how Mobicip helps parents take responsibility of the iPod Touches and iPhones so their kids can safely use their mobile devices.

There is more information about the presentation below:

The educational use of iPod Touches through school-wide implementation at our school has served as a catalyst for collaboration and discussion between and among students, educators, and other community members. Discussions about applications and the implementation of this new technology have opened new doors to dialog about teaching and learning across disciplines. The iPod Touch provides instant access to the internet and forces conversations about appropriate, engaging, educational resources available when planning and carrying out lessons. Initial conversations as to how one uses the iPod Touch in the classroom have shifted to more specific, focused questions. Conversation now centers on which apps and sites are used to reinforce each discrete objective in the curriculum. Students benefit daily from collaborative opportunities as they enjoy inquiry based learning. This session explains our journey from planning phase, through our present place where each student carries an iPod touch each day every day.