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published Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009

AT&T's FamilyMap helps pin location of loved ones

Audio clip

Cathy Lewandowski

Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?

The world may never know the whereabouts of the fictional criminal of the 1990s children's television show, but parents instantly can know where their teenage Carmens are with the new AT&T FamilyMap application for wireless phones.

The application, according to Tennessee/Kentucky marketing manager Cathy Lewandowski, displays the location of a family member's phone and allows it to be seen on a map from the Web browser of a portable computer or mobile device.

WHAT'S THE COST?

AT&T users have the ability to universally locate up to two phones on an account for a monthly subscription of $9.99 or up to five phones for $14.99 per month. Customers who sign up for the service will receive the first 30 days free. AT&T also recommends customers to have an unlimited data plan. For information, visit www.att.com/famil...>

"For really busy families," she said, "it's a way to keep track of each other or check in on loved ones for any reason."

Since 60 percent of AT&T customers already are part of a family plan or multiple-line account, the service is one many of them may feel they need, Ms. Lewandowski said.

"Essentially," she said, "this gives customers a piece of mind."

The service can set a day or time to automatically locate a family's member's phone, can map the location with either satellite or interactive views and can permit the family member to be contacted immediately via e-mail or voice, Ms. Lewandowski said.

She said the application will work with any postpaid AT&T phone, but location information is returned with the highest precision (on) GPS-assisted AT&T phones.

about Clint Cooper...

Clint Cooper is the faith editor and a staff writer for the Times Free Press Life section. He also has been an assistant sports editor and Metro staff writer for the newspaper. Prior to the merger between the Chattanooga Free Press and Chattanooga Times in 1999, he was sports news editor for the Chattanooga Free Press, where he was in charge of the day-to-day content of the section and the section’s design. Before becoming sports ...

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darlaj692003 said...

I think family map could've been a great idea; however........notifying those being mapped defeats the purpose. If a child doesn't want to be mapped at a certain location, all they have to do is leave the phone somewhere else.....thus giving the parent A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY. This could be very dangerous!!!!!!!! Sorry, your "Privacy consideration" HAS ruined the value of your product.

July 1, 2009 at 1:46 p.m.
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