FamilyMap Shows Where Family Members Are and What They Are Near

By Contributor Wireless and Mobile News on April 15, 2009 12:58 PM

AT&T FamilyMap is a new tool form mothers and others to see the location of a family member's phone via a web browser on a PC or mobile phone. Just in time for Mother's Day they also have some special offers and deals on phones for Mom that can used the FamilyMap service.

The FamilyMap service enables users to see details such as location on a map and surrounding landmarks like schools and parks. Users can also toggle between satellite and interactive street maps. Families can customize their mapping experience by assigning a name and photo to each device within their account, and can also label places they visit frequently, like "Home" or "Soccer Field."

Through the tool's schedule checks option, parents can receive alerts at specified times via text or e-mail. For example, parents could request a schedule check every weekday at 4 p.m. to check on their child's location. In another scenario, parents of a teenager who drives could use the tool to check on their child's location instead of calling or texting the teen, which might present a distraction while the teen is on the road.

The first thirty days of the FamilyMap service is free and then after that it is $9.99 a month for two family members or $14.99 for up to five family members.

"AT&T FamilyMap is a terrific tool to help busy families keep track of each other, as well as a great way to check up on loved ones for any reason, such as to touch base with elderly family members," said Mark Collins, vice president of Voice and Data Products for AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "More than 60 percent of AT&T wireless customers are part of a family plan or multiple line account, so there's a considerable number of our subscribers whom we believe will find this service beneficial."

Users may locate any phone with which a billing relationship is established -- for example, phones that are part of the same wireless account.

In keeping with AT&T 's industry-leading stance on privacy, AT&T FamilyMap includes tools that give the primary account owner control in managing privacy preferences. All users on the account receive a text message when their phones first become locatable through AT&T FamilyMap, and those users will receive periodic reminders that their phones can be located. Alternately, the account owner has the option of notifying a phone every time location information is requested.

Additionally, account owners receive notification when location information for a phone not already being tracked is requested through the application, and he or she can then choose whether to allow the request.

The service is compatible with all AT&T postpaid mobile phones. Location information is returned with the highest precision when A-GPS (assisted-GPS) technology is available. Alternative location-finding technologies will be utilized to locate users when A-GPS in unavailable(1).

Standard data usage charges apply, and an unlimited data plan from AT&T is recommended.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

Device to be located must be turned on and on the AT&T Network. Coverage not available in all areas. Service availability, timeliness or accuracy of location is not guaranteed.
Users must cancel free trial of AT&T FamilyMap within 30 days or be automatically subscribed at a cost of $14.99 or $9.99 per month depending on plan. Customers can cancel from the "My Accounts" portal on their handset or by calling AT&T Customer Care.