Written by Kelli Smithgall

A new phone specifically marketed to teens happens to come preloaded with a game titled “Sexy Poker”. This strip-poker game is featured on Virgin Mobile and Kyocera Wireless’ new Switch_Back mobile phone.

The free demonstration game plays seductive music with promiscuously dressed women speaking naughtily. The sample of Sexy Poker involves a ninety second preview where a scenario would be women tied to poles or bending over cars teasing the players into having the animated women strip off their clothes, although they never peel down to nothing. The full version does not involve any nudity either.

In response to community outcry, Virgin Mobile feels parents need to be in control of the games their teens are playing and not necessarily the company itself. This brings up the old adage when it comes to raising children, “It takes a village.” They also feel that the ultimate responsibility lies with the buyer. Citing the company’s service terms that need to be agreed with before activation of the phone; “….content may be unsuitable for children/minors; unreliable or inaccurate, or offensive, indecent or objectionable.” Apparently, the disclaimer is not exactly put upfront in the agreement.

Virgin Mobile had this response:
"Mobile services available through VirginXL or VirginXtras and your Virgin Mobile phone may allow you to access the Internet, text, pictures, games, graphics, music, email, sound and other materials ("Mobile Content") and send Mobile Content elsewhere. Mobile Content may be: unsuitable for children/minors; unreliable or inaccurate; or offensive, indecent or objectionable. You are solely responsible for evaluating the Mobile Content accessed by you or anyone using your Virgin Mobile phone. We strongly recommend you monitor data usage by children or minors. Prior to accessing certain content which may be inappropriate for children/minors, we may require you to provide certain personal information in order to verify that you are at least 18 years of age."


Virgin Mobile states they are happy to refund or replace the phone without the strip poker game if the customer is not pleased with the content or other services on their phone. The quandary over the Switch_Back brings to mind the old adage when it comes to raising children, “…It takes a village.”




- 2007-12-21