Review: Mobicip Kid-Safe iPhone Web Browser

For over a year and a half parents have been concerned about getting their children an iPhone because there was no parental restrictions on the internet or any other app. Apple only had one answer: turn on restrictions in the settings, and completely turn off Safari.

Because this is not a practical answer for most parents, we were relieved to hear that Apple started allowing new types of web browsers to be downloaded via the App Store. Because of this, we’ve been graced with a new browser called MobiCIP that enables 3 different levels of parental controls.

MobiCIP fortunately delivers a nearly identical browsing experience to that of the Safari, but with restrictions in place. Here’s what the browser looks like on an approved page.

mobicip3

And here’s a site that has been restricted.

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It’s easy to change the restriction settings from MobiCIP’s main website. Just enter in the parental user name and password, and enjoy.

Here are a couple other screenshots of the browser in action. This is the very first page that pops up — a home page that offers several different kid-friendly websites.

photo

The bookmarks look similar to the Safari screen but not identical.

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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. But make sure that once MobiCIP has been installed on your child’s iPhone, the Safari browser has been taken off via the restriction settings. Otherwise there really is no point to downloading it.

We offer the challenge to you, parents: try it out. Does it work as well for you as it did for us? Sound off and let us know what you think.

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Posted on 17 Apr 09 - Filed in Apple, Software&Services, Wireless - Comments - Written by bradmolen

  • Bill Gates
    What's to stop the child from downloading their own browser app?
  • phil
    but safari still working... i just paid for useless app. stupid
  • David
    You have to disable Safari in the application settings, like the article says. Of course it's useless if you forget that step.
  • kinderis
    I agree with Bill that children can download other browser application, so if we want to solve this problem, we need to find out another way. But the idea to create Mobicip Kid is really great and needed for many people. I will definitely search other such kind applications and read about them. Thanks for the great post.

    Regards,

    Samuel Lipetson from iphone development
  • Erin
    Just to let you know, under the restrictions settings you can also restrict the App store. This would prevent them from being able to download their own browser. If they want to download apps, just allow them to do it in your presence, then lock the app store back.
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