TalkTalk has announced the launch of "Magic Desktop" offered free exclusively to TalkTalk customers.  

"The service allows parents to introduce young children to a computer in a child-friendly environment and encourages families to use the internet safely", says TalkTalk, aiming the service at 2- to 10-year-olds.

Magic Desktop is said to feature a range of child-friendly, or perhaps more accurately parent-friendly, applications that let parents manage the sites their kids can visit and create a list of approved email contacts in "Magic mail".

There's also learning exercises rewarded by a point system that can be extended into the real world for the likes of homework or chores.

TalkTalk customers with Windows-based PCs can download the Magic Desktop application free of charge at www.talktalk.co.uk/magic-desktop. 

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