A revolutionary app that keeps children safe on their phones has been created by a small firm based near Swindon.
Designed and launched by Cricklade-based Supotco, it allows parents to remotely monitor and manage the games, websites and apps downloaded by their children, as well as screening calls and contacts and giving the location of the youngster’s smartphone. 
Its creators believe it is a world-first, with no other app offering such a comprehensive package of protection features for children.
Supotco has already attracted investment of around £130,000 an approved recipient for SEIS (Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme) funding.
It is now seeking further investment to help its six-strong team develop the product and expand its market.
The app, also called Supotco – it is ‘octopus’ backwards – is the brainchild of entrepreneur Alex Mitchell, who has had a long career in telecoms and has lived in Wiltshire for five years.
Alex had his lightbulb moment when his son Artyom asked for his first phone. Like any parent, Alex wanted to make sure his son would be safe. But he found nothing on the market that would satisfy him.
“There isn’t anything at all out there at the moment like this,” said Alex. “There are apps which have some of the features we have, but nothing which brings them all together.”
Parents use an online dashboard to customise the Supotco app, works with Android phones. It can then be accessed from any smartphone, tablet, PC or laptop.
A number of mobile network operators are already expressing an interest in offering Supotco as part of their package for customers.
Parents are not the only potential market. Supotco could also be used by older people wanting a simple, easy-to-use phone. The app has an emergency button feature, which means it would be a much cheaper alternative to panic buttons older people use to call for help.
It could also be used by companies wanting a tracking system for staff.
Alex said: “Our aim is to enable parents to manage the inevitable introduction of their children to the interconnected world.
“Supotco allows parents to provide a simple way for their children to avoid unnecessary contacts, harassment and cyber bullying when using a mobile phone.
“If the parent does not add a feature, app or contact then the child cannot access that feature and neither can that feature access the child.”
