Smartphone Apps to Get Age-Based Ratings

Mobile applications and games on popular smartphones and tablets — including Apple's iPhone and iPad and Android-based devices — will soon carry age-based ratings. The ratings that AT&T Wireless, Microsoft, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and Verizon Wireless plan to use starting next year may look familiar to many. That's because they are based on those created for video games by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) in 1994.