Vodafone Ireland has introduced a version of its parental control software, Safety Net, for Android smartphones. It enables parents to protect children from unwanted calls and texts and prevent them from accessing inappropriate websites.

The free app, which is preloaded on certain phones or can be downloaded from the Android Market, was developed with anti-bullying expert Prof Stephen Minton and technology consultancy Techbridge.

Safety Net will now be introduced in seven additional Vodafone markets: the UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Egypt.