Browser

We are happy to announce that our 2.0.3 update has been approved by Apple. What's new in this version

- Better support for WiFi hotspots that need an agreement

- Enforces strict safe search on multiple search engines

- Restores support for iPhone and iPod Touch with the older OS 2.2.1. This has been a top faq in the recent past. Users who do not wish to upgrade to the new iPhone OS 3.0 can continue to use the Mobicip Safe Browser with all of its newest features. 

Please go ahead and download the latest update (FREE for everyone who has Mobicip already) and let us know what you think!

One of our most critical users has reviewed our latest update and posted his thoughts on iTunes. Here is an excerpt.

I just submitted this review to the iTunes store.  Nice work.

5 Stars

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This update is a GREAT IMPROVEMENT!  I had given the first version a harsh one star review because the application did not do a good job blocking image searching on the various image search engines.  But after playing with this new application for several hours, I am impressed.  It is by far the best content filtering browser for the iphone.  It does the best job out of the box.  There are still a few things on my wish list, but it is worth 5 stars just like it is.

 

Thank you very much Mr. Bobo. We are indeed glad to hear your kind comments. You keep us on our toes and we will continue to strive hard to live up to your expectations.

Mobicip Team

Thanks to Scott Ogrera for featuring Mobicip's parental control browser for iPhone and iPod Touch as the browser of the day on his About.com Web Browsers Blog.

Scott writes

Mobicip for the iPhone and iPod touch is a Web browser that blocks children from viewing adult content on their portable device. Utilizing a unique type of dynamic filtering, this browser does more than just check a website against an existing URL blacklist. Mobicip also uses ratings set by the Family Online Safety Institute and, if all else fails, employs real-time content analysis to determine if a particular site is inappropriate for kids.

This three-pronged approach is both innovative and effective, giving parents peace of mind while their youngsters are browsing on the go. Filters can be set at one of three levels - High school, Middle school, and Elementary school - with the latter naturally being the most restrictive.

Content filtering isn't the only reason to use Mobicip. The browser also features integrated traffic encryption which helps ensure that your personal information is safe when surfing the Web from a less than secure hotspot such as your local Starbucks.

Thank you Scott! We appreciate it.

Mobicip team

Another well-written review of Mobicip's Safe Browser for the iPhone and iPod Touch on UnwiredView.com. Some excerpts:

MobiCIP fortunately delivers a nearly identical browsing experience to that of the Safari, but with restrictions in place.

All in all, the browser worked quite well, and is something I would recommend to any concerned parent. There were no differences in performance whatsoever since it is still working off of the same network.

Thanks @UVStaska for a well-written and unbiased review.

AppCraver has posted a review of Mobicip's Safe Browser for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Here are some excerpts from a positive review in which Mobicip scored 8/10!

The real question for most parents is going to be “does Mobicip Safe Browser work?” and the short answer is “yes.”

If you have been hesitating to give your child access to an iDevice because of internet capabilities, definitely check out Mobicip as it will probably alleviate many of the concerns you have. While not guaranteed to work in every instance, for every person, as a free app with the capabilities it has, Mobicip Safe Browser is a solid solution to browsing safety concerns.

Thanks for the review, ApprCraver.

Mobicip was featured in this New York Times article today. We do precious little promotion for our products, and most of our users find us through referrals and word of mouth. So, any coverage is much appreciated, though the title is a little bit severe. Mobicip allows parents to setup the browser and not snoop on the Internet access, if that is their preference.

This was by design, since we believe that the monitoring should be a point of negotiation between the parent and the child. Many parents say that they don't actually have to snoop, but the fact that they can is by itself a deterrent. The kids counter that the filter catches most inappropriate content anyway, so what is the point of snooping. Of course, the parent holds the purse strings, but finding a mutually acceptable point is what we recommend.

What was more interesting to us is the discussion that followed. We feel that everyone has an opinion on the merits and demerits of Internet filtering, until it comes to their own kids. There is no question about which way they lean after that!

Thank you iPhoneandKids.com for a fair review of the Mobicip parental control browser. You are doing a great job reviewing iPhone apps designed for kids. Parental control and internet safety is a big issue for parents who buy the iPod Touch or iPhone. Thanks for bringing attention to this issue and for reviewing our solution as well.

We would like to address some of the questions you raised about Mobicip in your review.

App Store Ratings

Unfortunately, app store ratings are heavily weighted against free apps. For any app, only users that purchase the app can review it. Since Mobicip is free app, anyone can download it. It turns out that the iPhone prompts anyone who deletes an app to rate it, while people who are using it actively are never asked to rate the app. This skews the rating numbers, especially when we have some suspicious operators (we think) that are artifically trying to bring down our rating. Our recommendation is to read the reviews that people have taken the time to write, and go by those reviews.

Website Problems

Yes, we do have some problem websites that users have reported. We have a small list of these sites that we are actively working to fix. Users are notified as and when the fixes are rolled out. The good news is that there are only a handful of these and all of them should be fixed soon.

We would have loved to see an independent head-to-head comparison of the alternatives, especially with the usability of the browser and the quality of the filtering. Perhaps you will be able to do it at a later time.

Thanks anyway.

Dear Mobicip Parents

A minor update version of Mobicip is available on the App Store. This resolves some of the login issues reported by users. Please download the update from the App Store and give us your feedback.

Thanks

Mobicip Support