Parents of a cell phone-toting child share a certain dread that arrives with the monthly wireless bill. Did the kids go overboard on text messages? Did they call too many people - or perhaps the wrong people? Did they download too many ring tones? AT&T is trying to address those concerns with a new service starting today called Smart Limits, which allows parents to control when, how and how much their children use their cell phones. Parents can now regulate the number of voice minutes and text messages their child uses in a month, whom they can call and receive calls from, what time they can use the phone and how much they can download. The service, which sells for $4.99 a month for each phone account, is the first time parents can get such an array of controls from one of the big four wireless operators. No new ring tones for you, my child / Parents can set limits on kids' use of cell phone on AT&T
This sounds like it's taken straight from AT&T's marketing department. AT&T fka Cingular is hardly the first to attempt to offer something for younger wireless users. Several months ago T-Mobile offered the "kid connect" service to help control use by younger users. The AT&T plan leaves the kid with no way to contact anyone except 911 when they run out of minutes. The kid connect plan at least lets them call a parent's number even if they have exhausted all their regular minutes. AT&T's plan just leaves them dead in the water.
Uh since all family talk plans have unlimited mobile to mobile doesnt that mean they can still call mom and dad(as long as mom and dad are on the family talk or at least on AT-T which would be the case in most families not every but most) and lets see......oh anyone else on AT-T.By the way i aint flaming you just making a point.
No, it doesn't. Once a limit is reached, the service will be restricted. Calls to and from phone numbers designated as Allowed Numbers and calls to 911 will continue to be allowed, regardless of the limits you set.
About time they came up with something for parents to use as a control, Luckily the only one of my kids I would consider using this for is my 13 year old, but he hasn't been a problem so I don't need it yet. But it's nice to know I have this option now & he could still call me or my wife if there is a problem. If I had to use it for all 3 kids the $15.00 isn't that bad, but could be better & with unlimited SMS & M2M I have a lot less to worry about with the older ones.
I agree. I think the other carriers should come up with something like this as well. Parent's need to control what their kids are doing on their phones. The kids can do what they want when they turn 18. Until then it's total parental control.
5 bucks a month per line? I don't get that. If you are the primary account holder and you get your two kids a line attached to your account, you should be able to set all limits for their use....whether they are minor children...or if it is a sister adding a line for a brother. Whoever pays the bill....or whoever the account name is, should have a say so what or who can run up what services. It shouldn't be a separate "chargeable" service. This is like Comcast telling me.....well, you can block the ability of people in your house from ordering pay per view movies and racking up your bill......but we are going to charge you to prevent them from ordering stuff against your wishes.
