Verizon Wireless launched a GPS-based child-tracking service on Monday called Chaperone, following a growing trend of wireless companies looking to use location-based technology to help parents keep tabs on their kids.

Wireless launched a GPS-based child-tracking service on Monday called Chaperone, following a growing trend of wireless companies looking to use location-based technology to help parents keep tabs on their kids.

The service is the most conservative of the child-tracking services that are being offered by major wireless companies, which are hoping to use GPS-embedded phones to sell location-based applications.

Sprint’s Family Finder service became available in April, and Disney’s mobile service will include child-tracking capabilities when it launches this month (see Sprint Starts Tracking Kids and Mickey Goes Mobile).

Mickey Goes Mobile

Verizon Wireless said its Chaperone application will sell for $9.99 a month for a basic plan and $19.99 for a plan with more features. It will only be available with the Migo, the LG-manufactured kids phone.

Chaperone is also only available through the Family Shared Plan, which the company said will “help restrict unauthorized use of the service.” And it won’t be sold over the Internet, in order to avoid “deliberate misuse,” the company said in a statement.

Verizon Wireless is moving carefully, looking to avoid any potential security or privacy concerns.

Industry execs said the Chaperone service was ready for months as Verizon deliberated over legal concerns, eventually opting for a highly restricted plan.

Verizon Wireless’s precautions could pay off by convincing parents to pay for the service. Parents are likely just as concerned as the carrier to ensure the service is not liable to security lapses.

LBS

While Sprint, now combined with Nextel, is the carrier that has embraced location-based mobile services most aggressively, Verizon has been following up with a strategic move of its own.

Nextel

All the U.S. carriers have been looking to offer more and more consumer-targeted location-based services recently, following an earlier play for business-based LBS applications.

Beyond Chaperone, Verizon also offers a Navigation service that offers turn-by-turn driving directions over select cell phones.

In the United States, Cingular has been quiet on any plans to offer location-based services, and analysts speculate the carrier will have to start playing catch-up soon.

Sprint also offers a navigation service, powered by TeleNav, the Santa Clara, California-based startup.

Telenav recently raised $30 million in venture funding from Menlo Ventures, Lehman Brothers Venture Partners, iGlobe partners, and Sycamore Ventures.

Contact the writer:KFehrenbacher@RedHerring.com