T-Mobile Offers Parents Family Allowances

T-Mobile's upcoming Family Allowances feature is intended to let parents manage how their children use their mobile phones...and control service costs.

T-Mobile has announced it will be rolling out a Family Allowances plan in August with the idea of letting parents more easily manage how their children use their wireless phones…and keep those pesky phone bills under control. The plan will enable parents to give children an upfront wireless allowance for telephone minutes, text messages, and downloads (like ringtones, wallpaper, and games) via an online tool. When a child or teen exceeds their allowance for a service, the service shuts off and T-Mobile sends the parent a note.

“Parents across the country want their teens to have a mobile phone to stay in contact, but also want that phone to be used responsibly,” said T-Mobile director of marketing Lisa Brown, in a statement. “With Family Allowances, parents get peace of mind knowing they can reach their sons and daughters, without having to worry about surprise bills. They can also reward their teens for responsible phone use by increasing their allowance.”

Parents can change limits anytime they like, and can also set up “Always Allowed” numbers that will continue to be reachable even if a child or teen exceeds their allowance. Unlimited calling features—like T-Mobile’s MyFaves—can also be exempt from monthly allowances, although parents can also set limits on unlimited calling features.

Family Allowances should roll out in August at an introductory rate of $2 a month with a T-Mobile family plan.

Reports are also circulating that T-Mobile plans to introduce 3G high-speed wireless data service in roughly two dozen markets in the third quarter of 2008. if true, it would give the number-four U.S. wireless operator a way to compete with the likes of Verizon and AT&T as consumers increasingly gravitate toward smartphones and data-intensive services.