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Mobile phones are increasingly pervasive in Europe with 80% of households having at least one handset. Many parents now purchase mobile phones for their children, often for reasons of safety and peace of mind. However, mobile phones pose a number of dangers, which parents may be unaware of. 3G telephones with advanced capabilities offer services much like the Internet, which bring with them many new risks. Nonetheless they are an excellent tool for children to keep in touch with their peers, either by talking or via texting (SMS). They are also increasingly used for playing games, and as alarm clocks, personal organisers and cameras. Children are often "early adopters" of mobile phone services, and many have purchased ring tones, animations, games and images to customise their phones. In the future, we can expect mobile phone services to increasingly converge with other devices, with phones therefore becoming personal digital assistants. In Japan, they are even used as digital wallets for payment. As the services diversify, both risks and opportunities will increase.
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