Rulespace Solutions

Filtering Company Eyes Wireless Space.

On: 2005-09-28 12:12:19

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA — September 28, 2005 — Filtering the wireless Internet is a priority for wireless carriers and most will have some sort of parental control filtering capability in place by the end of the year, according to one of the primary suppliers of the technology.

Wireless carriers are working to get at least rudimentary filtering capabilities up and running before January, says Alistair Allan, president and chief executive of Rulespace. Rulespace has been a primary supplier of filtering software for ISPs since 1996. Its filtering software is used by America Online, MSN and other large ISPs, Allan says. He’s been talking with all the major wireless carriers in the last several weeks as they work to get filtering capabilities in place.

Allan met with senior executives from the major wireless carriers and systems integrators at a meeting convened by CTIA in Washington, D.C., about two weeks ago to discuss their requirements.

Major wireless carriers are working to get Internet filtering capabilities in place as they also strive to get a content ratings system approved via CTIA. Both would provide parents with a way to keep their children from accessing inappropriate material via wireless phones and to give them an idea of what to expect from carrier–offered services.

Carriers are working to get such parental controls in place to both quell some growing criticism about potentially offensive services getting to minors via their networks and, Allan says, to beat some looming state regulation. Allan says a Utah law, passed several years ago that requires filtering capabilities be implemented by wireline carriers and ISPs, was updated this summer to include wireless carriers. Wireless carriers operating in the state of Utah must have filtering capabilities in place by year’s end, Allan says.

Internet filtering capabilities have been kind of a sticking point for wireless carriers as they try to get various capabilities and the details surrounding those capabilities in place. The text of the blocking notification pages, for instance, has to be worked out. “Carriers are very protective of their networks,” Allan says. “There are proprietary hardware” and other quirks that all need to be considered.

With all the details to resolve, wireless carriers will probably have initial filtering features in place by year’s end, with a fuller set of features probably coming by the end of the first quarter of next year, according to Allan.



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