Companies partner to become first to offer purchase of kid-appropriate phones and airtime with virtual currency.
SAN MATEO, Calif., -- SmartyCard(TM), the online games service for tweens that lets them earn their favorite rewards through one flexible virtual currency, today announced a strategic partnership with kajeet(TM), the cell phone service made for kids. Starting today, tweens can unlock and redeem SmartyCard points for kajeet's popular pay-as-you-go mobile phones from the SmartyCard catalog of real and virtual rewards. SmartyCard and kajeet now offer parents a new way to encourage responsibility and underscore the importance of education before giving mobile privileges to their kids.
"Everyday, we talk to another family that wants to provide incentive phone privileges utilizing SmartyCard's learn-stuff-earn-stuff approach. Both SmartyCard and kajeet are designed to provide family friendly services to tweens while ensuring just the right amount of parental controls and safety," said Chris Carvalho, general manager, SmartyCard. "This is just another example of SmartyCard helping parents reinforce the universal values of hard work and goal achievement while at the same time providing ample motivation for children to learn by providing a highly sought after reward."
Market research from Yankee Group shows that 54 percent of tweens ages 8 to 12 will own cell phones within the next three years. This trend provides a great opportunity for companies like kajeet to find new and interesting ways to introduce cell phone services to tweens.
"Adding kajeet cell phones to the SmartyCard rewards mall is a great way to introduce kajeet to tweens and their parents and to reinforce with kids the responsibility that comes with owning their own cell phone," said Carol Politi, senior vice president of corporate and business development at kajeet. "When we first heard about SmartyCard, we were instantly attracted to their ability to engage kids in educational activities that allows them to earn rewards they really want. We know kids want cell phones, and we appreciate that parents can give their kids the tools to earn those rewards."
Beginning this week, SmartyCard will feature the kajeet Samsung m300 in its rewards mall. The phone allows parents and kids to access kajeet's unique suite of parental controls and kid-appropriate services. Tweens who choose the kajeet phone will be granted free shipping and $5 airtime toward the use of their phone.
About kajeet phone service
kajeet is the only cell phone service designed specifically for kids and their families. The kajeet pay-as-you-go service has no contracts, no activation fees, and no termination fees. The phones also come with parental controls that allow kids and parents to set budgets, allocate periods of time the phone cannot be used, receive the calls and texts they want and block the ones they don't.
About SmartyCard games and rewards
Through SmartyCard, children explore subjects via quizzes and problem sets, pursuing point values awarded according to level of difficulty and contingent upon answering seven-out-of-ten activity questions correctly. SmartyCard lesson content is homegrown and developed in partnership with several leading online educational content providers to ensure that SmartyCard games engage kids in a learning experience that encourages imaginative thinking outside of the classroom. Parents fund these activities by buying and depositing points directly into their child's account. Friends, family and parents can buy points for a child through SmartyCard virtual cards at www.SmartyCard.com.
About SmartyCard
SmartyCard is the first learn-earn-and-play experience to provide real and virtual rewards to tens of millions of families that believe learning at home can be fun and rewarding. Utilizing homegrown games and educational content from industry leaders, SmartyCard gives families the opportunity to engage in fun and interactive online games, quizzes and lessons. As kids learn, they earn and redeem points for popular rewards from popular online destinations like ClubPenguin(TM), WebKinz, Stardoll, Bella Sara, and many more. SmartyCard's online learn-and-earn approach to education reinforces the universal value of hard work and steers children towards a lifetime of educational achievement and success. SmartyCard is a Gazillion, Inc. company. To learn more or to begin playing, visit www.smartycard.com.
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