A REVOLUTIONARY new app, designed in Cricklade, aims to keep children safe on their phones.

The app is called Supotco and was developed by a north Wiltshire company of the same name.

Supotco allows parents to remotely monitor their child’s phone usage and manage what they download, what games they play and for how long.

It also allows them to screen calls and contacts, check what websites their child visits and provides GPS information about the whereabouts of their children.

The app’s creators, a small team based in Cricklade, believe it is truly in a league of its own in terms of offering a comprehensive package of protection features for children.

The idea came to Alex Mitchell, of Supotco, when his son asked for his first phone.

“There isn’t anything at all out there at the moment which is like this,” said Alex.

“There are apps which have some of the features we have, but nothing which brings them all together.

“Our aim is to enable parents to manage the inevitable introduction of their children to the interconnected world.

“Supotco allows parents to provide a simple way for their children to avoid unnecessary contacts, harassment and cyber bullying when using a mobile phone.

“If the parent does not add a feature, app or contact then the child cannot access that feature and neither can that feature access the child.”

Mobile network operators are already looking at offering Supotco as part of a package for customers and the company is looking at other uses of the app, including for companies who might want to track staff.

The app also has an emergency button feature which also means it could be a cheaper alternative to panic buttons elderly people use to call for help.

In its current form children must have an Android phone to operate Supotco, with the parents using an online dashboard to customise it, which can be accessed from any smartphone, tablet, PC or laptop.

For more information, visit supot.co