T-Mobile this morning announced the launch of T-Mobile FamilyMode, a new feature that is designed to let parents monitor and control what their kids are doing on their internet-connected devices.
T-Mobile FamilyMode requires both a FamilyMode app and a device called the FamilyMode Home Base, which is designed to connect to a home’s Wi-Fi system to provide access to connected devices.
FamilyMode from T-Mobile will let parents manage, monitor, filter, and set time limits for a range of devices, even those that aren’t connected to the T-Mobile network thanks to the Home Base. It will also provide location services for keeping track of kids.
According to T-Mobile, it will work with phones, tablets, gaming consoles, laptops, smart TVs, and other Wi-Fi connected devices.
T-Mobile is charging $20 for the FamilyMode Home Base and $10 a month for the FamilyMode app, which controls the FamilyMode system. The FamilyMode feature will be available to customers starting on June 29.
Device monitoring and time management features to cut down on device addiction have become popular in 2018. The newest version of Google’s Android operating system includes Android Dashboard for monitoring time spent on a device and setting limits, and a similar feature, Screen Time, has been included in iOS 12.
Screen Time includes comprehensive monitoring of the amount of time spent using iOS devices, along with detailed parental controls and app limit features.
T-Mobile isn’t the first carrier to join the device monitoring trend. Verizon in April announced “Smart Family,” an app that lets parents track screen time, set content filters, monitor location, and more. Verizon’s option does not include hardware and is priced at $4.99 to $9.99 per month.
Tag: T-Mobile
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