An About.com cell phones reader just e-mailed me a great question. I’m responding publicly with my answer so others who may be in a similar situation can also benefit from the information.
For a $4.99 monthly surcharge, the plan allows a parent to control many aspects of cell phone service for their kids.
Parents can access an online site and specify exactly who their kids can call and receive calls from, when calls can be made, the number of ringtones and downloads permitted, how many minutes per month are allowed and how many text messages can be sent.
The plan, which is available on AT&T’s nationwide network, can come in handy for parents wanting to prevent the cell phone bill of their child from skyrocketing out of control and restrict their child from communicating with people who may be a bad influence.
Hello, Adam.Answer: AT&T’s “Smart Limits for Wireless”
I am a longtime subscriber of your cell phones newsletter and would like to know if you have any information on any cell phone provider plans for kids. Me and my wife are working parents and like to stay in touch with our kids (who are 10 and 9 years old) while we are away.
I would just like to buy two phones for them through where they can only receive calls from us, and in case of any emergency, they can only call us with a one-touch feature or can also dial 911.
I heard in Europe they have these available. I just want to know if they have any such plan here in the U.S. market and specially where I live in Dallas.
For a $4.99 monthly surcharge, the plan allows a parent to control many aspects of cell phone service for their kids.
Parents can access an online site and specify exactly who their kids can call and receive calls from, when calls can be made, the number of ringtones and downloads permitted, how many minutes per month are allowed and how many text messages can be sent.
The plan, which is available on AT&T’s nationwide network, can come in handy for parents wanting to prevent the cell phone bill of their child from skyrocketing out of control and restrict their child from communicating with people who may be a bad influence.
Comments
What about the Canadian market?
This is only of some use! So for example, you can block your child from calling out, but the only way to block incoming calls is to block the individual numbers. But blocking numbers is for all day long, not just during your limits. You can not turn blocks on/off in a block.
So my child can not talk to his friends, or his friends can call when the “Time Restriction” is on. Not very useful!
How about a plan for kids who only use their phones 5-10 minutes a month. It sure isn’t worth the $120/year AT&T charges for their family plan. Even their Go-phones are $30 a month. Are there any plans that cater to very low usage customers?
I echo Nina’s question. I have two grandchildren reaching the age where they go on trips with school and scouts. I would like an inexpensive plan that would let them comunicate only with us. I already have a Verizon Family Plan maxed out with five phones, so Verizon tells me they can’t help unless I get another family plan.