AT&T Mobility expands parental control feature: Wireless provider’s ‘Smart Limits’ costs $5 per month

AT&T Mobility said it now has a measure in place that allows parents to cap their children’s mobile Internet usage. The carrier announced an additional feature for its AT&T Smart Limits for Wireless offer that it said will give parents the ability to set limits on a child’s access to the mobile Internet either by the cost or by the amount of data accessed.
The carrier initially launched Smart Limits in September 2007, but then quickly turned around and de-activated the service due to some 911 glitches. Even though outgoing calls to 911 would work, return calls from 911 would be blocked. Mark Siegel, spokesman for AT&T Mobility, said the carrier re-launched Smart Limits in February 2008.
Similar to Verizon Wireless’ Parental Controls and T-Mobile USA Inc.’s Family Allowances, Smart Limits also empowers parents to establish certain times of day a phone can be used for mobile Web, voice or text messaging; filter access to inappropriate Web content; set a maximum number of text messages allowed; block certain calls or texts; and limit downloadable purchases.
AT&T’s Smart Limits costs an additional $5 per line each month and is available to postpaid customers. Verizon Wireless’ Parental Controls also costs $5 per month, while T-Mobile USA’s Family Allowances starts at $2 per month.
Interestingly, Sprint Nextel Corp. offers parental control options for free. Its service can control Internet access, content purchases, text messaging, voice and even camera use.
Article updated Feb. 25 to include additional information.