Up to this point parents have been able to control most of the content their kids can access online and watch on television. However, with the increasing number of kids having Internet access-ready cell phones, parents are no longer as in-tune with all their kids can access wirelessly. To this, AT&T (News - Alert) introduced a solution today, Smart Limits, a suite of parental control features not only for Internet and mobile, but also used for limiting access to television content, and wireline services—all manageable via an online portal.

 
The portal provides info and directions on how to use parental controls for wireless, Internet, television and home phone services from AT&T.
 
Smart Limits features Wireless Smart, Surf Smart, Watch Smart and Talk Smart.
 
Parents can use Wireless Smart not only to control online access usage, but to also monitor wireless purchases. By accessing the MEdia Net Parental Controls, Cingular (News - Alert) Wireless customers can restrict mobile phone access to certain Web sites and also restrict purchases of premium subscriptions and downloads, such as games, ringtones and graphics.
 
Surf Smart enables the blocking of Web sites containing inappropriate and mature content. This feature is available for AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet and Dial members, who receive a package, which allows parents filter content and customize security settings for each child to ensure their safety while online.
 
AT&T will enable parents to also monitor their kids' television viewing activities with Watch Smart by activating video parental controls to filter viewing based on movie or TV ratings or completely block channels.
 
Talk Smart protects children from pranksters and unwanted callers. AT&T home phone calling features gives parents the ability to manage calls received, stop unidentified callers, and also block 900 and 976 numbers.
 
"A torrent of information and entertainment comes at us every day from wireless phones and wired phones, from the Internet, and from TV," said AT&T's chief operating officer Randall Stephenson in a statement. "With AT&T Smart Limits, we are giving our customers an intuitive, easy-to-use way of learning how to manage this content and decide what is appropriate for their families, especially their children."
 
Be sure to check out TMCnet’s Whitepaper Library, which provides a selection of in-depth information on relevant topics affecting the IP Communications industry. The library offers white papers, case studies and other documents which are free to registered users.

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Johanne Torres is contributing editor for TMCnet and Internet Telephony magazine. To see more articles by Johanne Torres, please visit her columnist page. 
 
 


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