Companies Develop Software to Scan Mobile Messages, Send Alerts to Parents

Parents Are Listening Services developed a program to better allow parents to monitor the contents coming into their children's cellphones. It's one of many companies developing software designed to alert parents when children and teenagers exchange lewd text messages, communicate with predatory adults or taunt each other via social-networking websites.

Another feature aims to curb texting and driving by disabling the messaging feature in a moving vehicle. Parental controls on cellphones aren't new. Verizon Wireless, for instance, offers an age-rated content filter for mobile-Internet content. T-Mobile USA can block certain kinds of messages, such as text or instant messages, while AT&T Inc. can ban specific numbers. All of the carriers offer some form of family locator feature for roughly $10 a month. Due to privacy concerns, however, carriers can't monitor the content of text messages and emails going into a phone. So a number of start-ups and smaller technology companies are stepping into the void.