GPS Is Available on Cell Phones for Older Kids, Too

When Jaci101@sbcglobal.net read my post about Wherifone's upcoming GPS Locator Phone for young kids, she said she'd like the same kind of GPS service for her older teen who is not always truthful about his whereabouts.

Check with your carrier, Jaci101, because some wireless phone companies are offering GPS services on several phone models in addition to a monthly calling plan. Robin Raskin explains how it all works in this post.

Here's a look at a few GPS services currently available with cell phone plans:

Sprint Nextel's Sprint Family Locator—$10 a month to locate up to four phones. Sprint offers the service on the most phone models—17.

Verizon Wireless' Chaperone—$10 for locator services. The Child Zone plan, $20 including Chaperone's locator services, sends text messages to parents when their children move in and out of pre-set boundaries (pictured above.) Available on 10 phone models, including the LG Migo, designed for younger children.

Disney Mobile—Included in the cost of family plans, starting at $40 a month for an individual phone and $60 a month for two phones. Parents can locate their children via cell phones or the Internet, and set limits on text messages, the hours the phones can be used, and whom their children can call.

Pricing information is helpful, but you also need to think about just what you're getting for these added fees. Remember, GPS is not infallible. It only works if the phone is on. And it may not work if a phone is located with your child inside building with walls and roofs blocking satellite signals or cellular service.

Don't think some ingenious kids—maybe yours—won't figure a way around this, either. Turning off the phone, or placing it where you think they are but they're not, are a few ways to stymie technology-dependent parents.

I'd love to hear from parents who have added GPS to their family plans. Let us know how and when you're using the services, and if you'd recommend it to other parents.