FOSI Launches Unique Family Online Safety Portal

LONDON - The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) today launches the Professional Edition of its Global Resource and Information Directory (GRID) at the House of Lords, Westminster.

GRID allows professionals to monitor and track safety initiatives, education efforts, legislation and organizations engaged in Internet safety around the world. Extensive profiles currently exist for over 150 countries, the 50 states of America and all 10 Canadian provinces. GRID also features commentary from world renowned experts on the latest trends and topics.

Comprehensive directories contained within the portal detail the work of industry as well as defining current online challenges. The quarterly review, moderated by experts, ensures that professionals are kept up-to-date with changes in the fast moving world of online safety. GRID uses the very latest technology, including interactive maps, timelines and search options for a simple, user-friendly approach.

"We are thrilled to launch GRID and showcase the multitude of comprehensive resources it offers," said Stephen Balkam, CEO of FOSI. "We believe that the Professional Edition will prove to be an invaluable asset for anyone remotely interested in the many and complex facets of the online safety world."

"FOSI's GRID is a remarkable and ground breaking achievement! Nothing can prepare you for the depth, quality and scale of the family online safety content that GRID delivers. It provides a vital and important new collaborative tool for industry, government and online safety professionals throughout the world.", said Professor Tanya Byron, author of 'Safer Children in a Digital World' and 'Do We Have Safer Children in a Digital World'.

Speaking on behalf of Verizon, the primary sponsor for GRID, Michael McKeehan, Executive Director, Internet & Technology Policy said, "GRID is the only resource of its type for up-to-date, reliable information about online safety. Educators, government officials, industry experts and others concerned about online safety will find this database to be extremely useful. Verizon is very pleased with the outcome of this project."

GRID is available through subscription and priced according to size and type of organization, with single user, multi-key or enterprise subscription levels. To subscribe or receive a free trial of GRID go to http://www.fosigrid.org and select the Learn more about GRID button. GRID is provided free of charge to FOSI members.

About FOSI

The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) works to make the online world safer for kids and their families by identifying and promoting best practices, tools and methods that also respect free speech. FOSI's members include: AOL, AT&T, Blue Coat Systems, Boodoo, BT Retail, Comcast, Entertainment Software Association, Facebook, France Telecom, Google, GSM Association, Kingston Communications, Loopt, Microsoft, MySpace, NCTA, Ning, Nominum, Optenet, RuleSpace, Sprint, StreamShield, Symantec, Time Warner Cable, Telefónica, TELMEX, The Wireless Foundation, Verizon, Yahoo!. FOSI hosts an annual international conference to bring together Internet safety advocates from a variety of sectors, including global corporations, government, non-profits, academia and the media, to discuss the current pulse of online safety and emerging solutions that will enhance it. For more information, please visit www.fosi.org.