The Bottom Line
- Convenient for parents, still feature-rich enough for kids
- A good set of features for family monitoring
- Phones are not as high-end as with other carriers
Description
- Technology support: CDMA
- Can locate kids and send family alerts
- Let's you control how much kids spend
Guide Review - Disney Mobile Review
Even though I don't have kids, I tested it recently for the benefit of About's large family readership. Disney Mobile doesn't offer flashy high-end phones, it focuses on simple, low-end, inexpensive devices that still include much of the usual features: a camera, a camcorder, and in some cases, Bluetooth with limited features.
A phone programmed as a "parent" lets you set monthly allowances, restrict certain numbers or even send a family alert: a SMS that is automatically broadcasted to all family members. It works flawlessly. You can also locate your kids but don't expect absolute precision. I tested that feature several times with the "kid" phone just besides me and the system once reported an address about 2 blocks from where the phone really was, then it got it almost right the second time. It will report location more or less in this way: "...near 1300 sw This Avenue, with a precision of 30 yards". Perfect to have a rough idea of where your kids are hanging out... if you are that big-brotheresque. However, wise kids will soon realize that just shutting their phone off or removing the battery can set them free from nosy parents.
I tested Disney Mobile with two of their phones: The Pantech DM-P205 and the LG DM-L200. Both are fair performers but the LG model has: a better keypad; a much better camera and weaker sound quality. On the other hand, the Pantech has surprisingly good sound quality, a fair-enough keypad but a bad VGA camera. Don't rely on it for souvenirs. Put aside the camera issue, I clearly prefered the Pantech DM-P205.
