Smart Limits has its limits
Earlier this month, we reported that AT&T was offering a parental controls feature to its wireless subscribers, including those with iPhones. For $4.99 a month, the Smart Limits for Wireless service let parents set limits on how many minutes their kids could use and when they could use the service; other features included blocking calls and text messages from specific telephone numbers.
According to our friends at Computerworld, one of those features is going back to the drawing board. AT&T announced today that it was suspending the call-blocking feature of Smart Limits.
The problem? While a kid using the Smart Limits plan could make a 911 call at any time — even when phone use was blocked — if the kid happened to get disconnected, the 911 operator wouldn’t be able to call back. AT&T is looking into a work-around.
The Mother Ship has more details.
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Comments (2)
I've been happy with the Smart Limits. I don't really use the call blocking feature though. Just time and mssage limits. Oh, and spending limits.
Posted by Walt | September 24, 2007 6:18 PM
BTW... they didn't just suspend the call-blocking features. They suspended the entire program until they can re-write the software that controls this on their end. Received an email from AT&T to this effect, and to let me know they were refunding the fee to everyone who paid for this feature.
In the meantime, my only option is to physically monitor the use of that cell phone and suspend it when it reaches the number of minutes I allow. At least I can suspend/resume at the click of a mouse.
Wonder how long it will take for them to fix this?
Posted by Walt | September 27, 2007 12:07 PM