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Parental control and child locator services are more robust now than they were a few years ago. The 2005-era dedicated "kid phones" never panned out and largely disappeared from the market. But many of today's handsets let parents restrict content in Web browsers, or even control how much time their kids can use the devices—and are much better phones to boot.
There are two ways to approach the parental controls issue. Carrier-based services, like Verizon's Chaperone or Sprint Family Locator, are controlled via a browser interface from a desktop or laptop PC using a password-protected account. On-device settings, such as the ones found on certain Sanyo phones, are set up right from the phone and allow for more granular control of the address book and internal apps.
If you're shopping for your kid's first cell phone, here are the best handsets to use with parental control services. In a nod to the current recession, and the fact that there's a good chance whatever phone you buy could end up lost between the couch cushions in the basement, I'll stick with budget-priced phones for this roundup.
In this roundup:
AT&T Quickfire
$29.99 (with two-year contract and after rebates)
www.attwireless.com
I wasn't all that enthused with the Quickfire on its release, but it makes a lot more sense at a reduced price of just $29.99. The messaging-focused Quickfire offers texters a large, comfortable QWERTY keyboard and a big touch screen. Essentially, it's a budget T-Mobile Sidekick for AT&T subscribers. Like the Motorola MOTO EM330 (see below), the Quickfire works with AT&T's Smart Limits service. It comes in silver, orange, and lime green colors, though the latter two still have a silver front panel surrounding the touch screen.
LG enV3 VX9200 (Verizon Wireless)
$79.99
www.verizonwireless.com
If you're looking for a good texting device for your kid that also works with Verizon's Chaperone GPS service, the enV3 is probably the best compromise at this time. It features a flip design with two keypads: a numeric one on the front, and a QWERTY keyboard inside, with screens for each. It's also a well-balanced performer with good call quality.
Motorola MOTO EM330 (AT&T)
Free (with two-year contract and after rebates)
www.attwireless.com
The EM330 is about as basic as you can get for a flip phone these days. That actually isn't so bad in this instance. The EM330 is a good sounding voice phone with a standard headphone jack, a (poor) camera, and basic Web access. Note that AT&T offers two levels of parental controls: the free Media Net ones that filter Web content and limit downloads, and the $4.99/month Smart Limits for Wireless service that also restricts texting and e-mail, and allows or blocks specific phone numbers.
Samsung Gravity SGH-T459 (T-Mobile)
Free (with two-year contract and after rebates)
www.t-mobile.com
T-Mobile is a little late to the parental control party, but its Family Allowances plan at least lets you restrict calling, messages, and download amounts. For messaging fiends, the Samsung Gravity SGH-T459 is probably my favorite slider form factor. It looks like a regular candy bar phone when closed, but pops open a roomy, horizontal QWERTY keyboard whenever you need it.
Sanyo Katana Eclipse (Sprint)
$49.99 (with two-year contract and after rebates)
www.sprint.com
The Eclipse comes with plenty of flashing lights—including ones you can tie to specific contacts when they call—as well as a very loud speakerphone. But more importantly, it comes with dedicated, password-protected parental controls in the Settings menu. They let you block certain phone numbers, restrict data services, lock the phone book, and then limit outgoing calls only to numbers already stored in the device.
Sanyo SCP-2700 (Sprint)
$19.99 (with two-year contract and after rebates)
www.sprint.com
Call it My First BlackBerry: this newer Sanyo model comes with excellent text messaging and e-mail apps, plus a genuine QWERTY keyboard in a smartphone-style slab design (complete with a dedicated emoticon key). The on-device parental controls let you lock the camera, restrict data services, and limit incoming or outgoing calls to certain numbers. The SCP-2700 comes in flowery-pink or staid-blue, and is ideal for one of Sprint's unlimited messaging plans—or Sprint's Family Locator service, which hooks into the GPS radio to tell you where your kid is at all times.
For more on parental controls with an emphasis on smartphones and carrier services, be sure to read our earlier Keep Kids Safe on Cell Phones roundup.