Virgin Mobile Decides 10 Is Too Young For A Mobile Phone

from the probably-not-such-a-good-idea... dept

Earlier this year, there were some stories about how younger and younger children were getting mobile phones, often because parents wanted to use them as a safety mechanism. For carriers, this very young market represented potential for market growth -- but it looks like the youth-focused Virgin Mobile in Australia has drawn a line. They've decided that they will not "target" those under 10. It's not entirely clear what that means. For the most part, it doesn't seem like any carriers are really looking at the under 10 market seriously -- it's just been a nice extra revenue source for a few. Virgin isn't saying they won't sell phones for those under 10 -- just that they won't focus their marketing efforts that low, which, basically means they'll keep doing what they, and almost every other carrier, are already doing.
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  1. identicon
    Oliver Wendell Jones, 9 Dec 2004 @ 11:38am

    Dang...

    And I had my heart set on a Scooby Doo themed cell phone...

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. identicon
    Chris, 9 Dec 2004 @ 12:18pm

    No Subject Given

    Well,since a 10 year old can't enter into a contract...I doubt they've ever sold a phone to a 10 year old in the first place.

    Targeting parents to buy phones for junior as a safety device might be good idea though. Won't work on me...

    link to this | view in thread ]

  3. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 10 Dec 2004 @ 10:28am

    Re: No Subject Given

    I'm tethering my rugrat to a cell phone as soon as possible. I hope we can one day just implant them into our offspring and bor-like control 'em.

    10 is too long to wait for a cell phone !

    link to this | view in thread ]

  4. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 10 Dec 2004 @ 10:28am

    Re: No Subject Given

    I'm tethering my rugrat to a cell phone as soon as possible. I hope we can one day just implant them into our offspring and borg-like control 'em.

    10 is too long to wait for a cell phone !

    link to this | view in thread ]

  5. identicon
    Mikester, 10 Dec 2004 @ 2:12pm

    PR

    I think this is probably just a PR stunt to say, "Hey look everyone - we're not going to market to your children like those evil cigarette compaines. Mom, dad, please buy your cell-phone from us because we care."

    link to this | view in thread ]

  6. identicon
    Erika, 4 Jan 2005 @ 3:49pm

    Re: PR

    I'm sorry. I seriously also think 10 is too young an age to have a cell phone. Why would a 10 year old kid need a cell phone for? 10 year olds are at home or at least should be. When i was 10 I maybe only went to a friends house for the night,I could not go to the movies by myself much less the mall either. I received my first cell phone when I was 14, the eighth grade and not the fourth grade.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  7. identicon
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  8. identicon
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  10. identicon
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    Hi there guys my bitch friend amanda will be blocked form send me any emails and her home phone number will be blocked.
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  11. identicon
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