How old were you when
you got your first mobile phone? Probably in your teens at the earliest, but
the world has changed drastically since them. Mobiles are no longer seen as a
luxury, but a necessity, with 75% of children under the age of 10 owning one.
However, it can still be
a big risk to buy your child a mobile phone, particularly if you have bought the phone on a long term contract. If your son
or daughter spends all their time on Facebook you could end up with a data bill
as long as your arm.
Here are my top tips on
getting the perfect for phone your child.
Billing
As I’ve just mentioned,
if you lock into a contract you open yourself up to the risk of huge monthly
bills. Some mobile phone providers will give you the option to cap the usage to
whatever is inclusive in the plan, but make sure you contact them before
handing the phone over to your kid.
If you’re worried about
the cost of adding another mobile to the family, see if you can sell your BlackBerry Torch 9810 online at mobile recycling websites.
Another option is to
just go for PAYG. This will certainly prevent a £500 landing on your doormat
next month, but it has other disadvantages. For example, if your child runs out
of credit they won’t be able to contact your in emergencies.
My preferred option for
children would be a SIM only 30 day contract. You will get the flexibility of
inclusive minutes, texts and data usage, but can cancel the contract at the
drop of a hat.
Network
O2, T-Mobile, Orange,
Vodafone, Giff Gaff… the options can seem endless. It’s usually best to choose
the same network as their friends and family as many providers offer free
minutes to the same network – reducing the chance of them eating up all their
minutes.
Wi-Fi
Whilst you may primarily
use your mobile for calling or texting, it’s likely that your kid will be
spending hours on Facebook or Twitter. The vast majority of smartphones now
have Wi-Fi connectivity, so make sure your child’s phone is hooked up to the Wi-Fi
at home in your families homes to prevent going over data allowances.
GPS
Many parents like their
child to have a phone so that they can keep in contact with them. However, we
all know that kids can forget to phone home, so this is where modern technology
will become your friend. By installing a GPS tracker on their mobile, you can
see where they are at all times, giving you peace of mind.
Apps
If you decide to go for
a modern smartphone, your child will have access to applications or ‘apps’.
I’ve already shown how these can be to your benefit (see GPS), but they can
also run up huge bills and see inappropriate content. Ensure that you set up
the parental controls and make your child aware of what they are allowed to
download.
Samantha
Jones is a smartphone enthusiast and technology blogger. As such, she knows the
risks and expenses involved in buying new tech. You can keep the cost down by
choosing to sell BlackBerry Torch 9810 handsets and other devices.
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