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/familymap.
"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.
