Young people are voracious mobile phone users...

...and are engaging with phone-paid services in growing numbers.

Newly commissioned research from PhonepayPlus shows that 37% of 11-17 year olds have used music or video content on their phone in the past six months. However, only one third knew how much they would be charged to download a ringtone, game or other phone-paid service. This potentially leads to young people paying more than they expected, or entering subscription services when they think they are making one-off payments.

Voting on reality TV shows, using a directory enquiry service, entering a competition or downloading a mobile game/ringtone are all products accessed via premium rate numbers, and are therefore considered phone-paid services.

So it's important that young people understand the threats and opportunities that come with using premium rate numbers, and that they know where to turn if they have questions or encounter problems.

Find out about PhonepayPlus

Find out about Phone-paid services

What's it all about?

PhoneBrain is the brain child of PhonepayPlus, the UK regulator for phone-paid services, and was set up to educate young people about these services - including the costs involved and how to make use of them without getting charged more than expected.

PhoneBrain has been updated and refreshed for the 2009/10 school year with:

• Updated content and teaching resources
• New competitions (for both the ICT & Enterprise subject areas) with great prizes
• And a new project ambassador - 16-year old music artist and entrepreneur FUGATIVE, one of the most exciting, upcoming names in British music

PhoneBrain is also supported by the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Follow this link to find out more about PhoneBrain and PhonepayPlus, as well as the DSCF's support for PhoneBrain.

• Enterprise Teaching Resources - Competition for students to come up with a new business idea

  

  Challenge your students to create a business plan for their own new phone-paid service and to enter the PhoneBrain Enterprise Competition. They can win the chance to meet and get tips from 16-year old music artist and entrepreneur FUGATIVE, one of the most exciting, upcoming names in British music.

  Find out more – Follow this link to download the lesson plan and other teaching resources, including the competition brief. Please note: these resources have been updated and refreshed for the 2009/10 school year.

• ICT Teaching Resources – Challenging students to create their own mobile ringtones and enter the PhoneBrain Ringtone Competition

  

  Help your students to learn and use new ICT skills by creating personalised ringtones for their mobile phones, using music and artwork provided by Hard2Beat (FUGATIVE's own record label) and Habbo (the virtual world and social networking site for teens). Students can ultimately upload and share their ringtones on the PhoneBrain 'teens' website, and also enter a competition to make a ringtone for FUGATIVE's mobile, with VIP FUGATIVE gig tickets and other FUGATIVE goodies up for grabs.

  Find out more – Follow this link to download the lesson plan and other teaching resources, including the 'how to' ICT tutorials and the competition brief. Please note: these resources have been updated/refreshed for the 2009/10 school year.

• PhoneBrain sees teachers, regulators and industry working together to bring the latest technologies to life in the classroom and help deliver the ICT and enterprise curricula.