EE teams up with parental ambassador Konnie Huq and EE Youth Council to launch new P.H.O.N.E. Contract

EE has teamed up with British TV and radio presenter, screenwriter and children's author Konnie Huq and the EE Youth Council to launch The P.H.O.N.E. Contract, a free customisable agreement parents and kids can use to set boundaries around smartphone behaviour.

This comes as EE’s new under 18s smartphone plans - Safer SIMs - and in-store online safety appointments are made available from today. 

The P.H.O.N.E. Contract has been developed following insights on smartphone usage from the newly formed EE Youth Council, not-for-profit organisation Internet Matters, parent ambassador Konnie Huq, and thousands of families across the UK.

It is a fully customisable downloadable document from the EE website, and covers topics including screentime, phone curfews and other situations when smartphone use is not allowed, as well as tools to monitor usage. It has been designed to feature input from both parent and child, ensuring young people feel heard in the decision-making process and can understand the rules being set. 

Huq comments: “All parents know how daunting it can feel to hand over more responsibility to your child.  With a smartphone, you're excited to give over increased independence, but the risks can be a worry. EE’s P.H.O.N.E. Contract enables parents to agree rules with their children and have conversations that they might never have had otherwise. It's all about creating a framework where families can feel confident about their digital lives.”

Malcolm Cubitt, Director of Mobile Product, EE, comments: “As parents prepare to give their children their first smartphones, our new free P.H.O.N.E. Contract has been designed to help both them and their child to agree boundaries on smartphone behaviour in a way that means everyone is fully engaged with the process." 

“When combined with our new Safer SIMs and in-store online safety appointments, as the UK’s best network for families, parents and guardians can be reassured we are here for them to get the practical guidance, tools and advice they need.”

2025 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS

Physical stores will be a key focus area at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards.

The awards. which are now open for entries, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

Our 2024 hall of fame entrants were revealed during an event which took place at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London on 21st November, and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by comedian Lucy Porter.

In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “The event is now into its sixth year and what a journey it has been. The awards started life as an online only affair during the Covid outbreak, before launching as a small scale in real life event and growing year on year to the point where we’re now selling out this fine, historic venue.”

He added: “Congratulations to all of our finalists. Many submissions did not make it through to the final stage, and getting to this point is no mean feat. Checkout-free stores, automated supply chains, immersive experiences, on-demand delivery, next generation loyalty offerings, inclusive retail, green technology. We’ve got all the cool stuff covered this evening.”

“But just importantly we’ve got lots of great examples of companies taking innovative tech and making it usable in everyday operations - resulting in more efficiency and profitability in all areas.”

Congratulations to our 2024 winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Lucy Porter, and all those who attended November's gathering. 

For further information on the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards, please fill in the below form and we will get back to you asap.