AT&T Brings In Smart Limits

Does your kid have a cell phone? Would you like some control over his or her usage of it? A new service from AT&T, called Smart Limits for Wireless, will let parents set limits on a child’s talk time, text messages, instant messaging and downloads. Additionally, itwill let parents manage both how and when a child can communicate, restrict access to mobile Web sites and allocate minutes among users of shared wireless plans.   It’s part of the SmartLimits plan the company is offering across several platforms. Parents can block numbers and filter content to the child’s phone. When the phone nears the limit in any area, the child receives amessage; once the limit has been reached, use is restricted, with the exceptions of calls and texts to 911 and “Allowed numbers.” Parents have the ability to change limits at any time.  The service comes as a response to a survey conducted by the company that found 84% of consumers believed parental controls and safety tools to be "extremely" or "very"important in keeping children safe. However, 31% of respondents said they did not feel they understood those tools well enough to use them to protect children.   “AT&T Smart Limits forWireless enables parents to provide their children with the safety and convenience of wireless service while setting sensible boundaries for its use,” said David Christopher, chief marketingofficer for AT&T’s wireless unit. “AT&T Smart Limits for Wireless gives parents peace of mind in knowing they will be able to keep in touch with their children but will avoid unexpectedoverage charges on their bill.”