Samsung launches the Samsung KidsTime App

  

Samsung Electronics Philippines Corporation (SEPCO) through its Media Solution Center in Southeast Asia (MSCSEA) today announced a series of initiatives to engage parents and children with a safe and secure “learning by playing” environment.

The initiatives will take place in the Philippines, and the rest of Southeast Asia, and will include the launch of Samsung KidsTime^TM; a children’s content service application (app), and the creation of a Samsung KidsTime^TM Author’s Award to encourage publishers to create relevant content for children.

Cris Concepcion, Director for Content & Services, Samsung Electronics Philippines Corporation said: "Samsung KidsTime^TM promotes a safe and secure learning environment for children. The large variety of kids' apps available makes it difficult for parents to filter and monitor what their kids are doing with technology. Through Samsung KidsTime^TM, parents are provided with tools such as Time Set, App Lock and Parent Report. This gives them peace of mind knowing that their child’s play sessions are guided and meaningful."

Samsung KidsTime^TM

Samsung KidsTime^TM is a content subscription service optimized for Samsung tablets that provides children aged 3-7 years old with access to a carefully handpicked set of edu-tainment apps and eBooks, and parents with additional features including personalized children usage reports.

The app provides content in a safe and age-appropriate environment, free from advertisements and in-app purchases. At launch, children have access to 30 eBooks and game apps revolving around themes such as learning math, literacy, science, creativity and others. The list will eventually expand to more than 50 apps that will be refreshed monthly.

Parents are also provided with “App Lock” function that prevents children from leaving the app environment without a passcode. This app allows kids to play and learn in a safe digital environment, giving parents peace of mind.

Concepcion continues: “It can be challenging and frustrating for parents to filter and identify safe and age-appropriate apps for their children. Content publishers are also finding it difficult for their apps to be discovered by parents that want to guide their child’s early learning progress. We can help address these challenges with Samsung KidsTime^TM, by providing an expertly designed and managed platform that makes it easy for parents to discover content and publishers to target consumers.

Samsung KidsTime^TM also has a time-setting function that allow parents to teach their kids to use technology responsibly. It also gives them personalized reports so they can monitor the apps their children are playing.

Based on the child’s usage, Samsung KidsTime ^TM gives parents the visibility on the type of content that appeals to their child as well as a comprehensive view of the child’s interests.  It will also recommend apps that they would need to supplement holistic learning. For example, if a particular child always plays games that lean towards Math, it will recommend apps that are geared towards Science and Reading.

Samsung KidsTime^TM Author’s Award

Samsung has announced the creation and launch of Samsung KidsTime^TM Author’s Award, in partnership with the National Book Development Council of Singapore (NBDCS) at the Asian Festival of Children’s Content 2014. Here in the Philippines, the National Book Development Board (NBDB) led headed by its chairperson Flor Marie Sta. Romana Cruz, will lead in identifying ten potential award winners, who will each win USD 20,000 and will have their winning submissions featured in Samsung KidsTime^TM for a year.

Participation is open to authors or publishers across the Philippines and South East Asia and will run until end October 2014. For the Philippines, the Author’s Award will be issued to 10 winners and valued at USD 2,000 per award.

Winners will be announced in November 2014 and the winning submissions will be promoted and distributed on Samsung KidsTime^TM in Southeast Asia for 12 months. More information can be found at the Samsung KidsTime^TM website.

Ms. Flor Marie Sta. Romana Cruz, National Book Development Board Chair said: "The National Book Development Board welcomes this collaboration with the Samsung KidsTimeTM Author's Award as it supports our advocacy to provide incentives for the publishing industry and to promote literacy especially among young readers.  The idea of digitizing noteworthy children's literature to make it accessible to a larger population beyond borders and to a clientele more attuned to the digital format is one that is long overdue.  We dream of every child reading in whatever format is within his/her reach.  What a boon to authors, illustrators, publishers and the entire reading community!"

Availability and pricing

Samsung KidsTime^TM is currently available for all users of Samsung GALAXY Tab 3 (7.0”), GALAXY Tab 3 Lite and GALAXY Tab 4 (7.0”) and will soon be available for other Samsung devices. 

Samsung KidsTime^TM is now available for download for free from Google Play.   In the Philippines, the app comes with a  free 1 month subscription to over 30 kid-safe apps and eBooks. In the Philippines, parents can upgrade to a monthly subscription of Php 199 that will give them unlimited access to all Samsung KidsTime^TM content.