RedBoss has become a well-established provider of games for mobile phones, or “M-Entertainment products”.  The young entrepreneurs who set up the company now supply games via their web portal and to mobile operating giants such as T-Mobile, Vodafone and Telefonica.

They are not alone in their success.  Another Czech games enthusiast set up a software company called Illusions Softworks, which has created popular games such as “Hidden & Dangerous” and “Mafia”.  Pterodon, yet another popular developer of games in the country, also employs young local staff.

Just five years ago, the Czech Republic was lagging behind other European countries in its use of internet and mobile telecommunication.  Belgium, which has a population very close to that of the Czech Republic, had more than double the number of internet users.  According to World Internet Stats, user growth in the Czech Republic since then has been 380%, and both countries have just under half the population online.  Mobile phone penetration in the Czech Republic has even overtaken that in Belgium.

The Czech Safer Internet awareness node is keeping track on the above issues. We recognise that there is an important difference between mobile and PC or online gaming. Mobile games and all related activities are to a large degree in the hands of mobile operators.  They sell it under their brand name and supervise the content and the traffic.  Online games on the other hand are often anonymous, uncontrolled and at greater risk of including harmful content.

The Czech node is responding to new developments and is currently preparing a new portal, which will be launched in early 2006.