AT&T Introduces Pay-For-Play Parental Controls for Mobiles

AT&T’s mobile division is going to follow Disney Mobile and others by introducing its “Smart Limits” parental controls: parents use a web interface to set call blocking, calling hours, text message and download limits. But unlike many similar child-protection systems, this one will cost users $4.99 per month—per kid.

Like Disney’s built-in parental controls, AT&T lets parents’ own numbers remain immune from the limitations, and 911 calling is always permitted of course.

Websites can also be blocked on many phones, but not on the iPhone, because of the way its Safari browser uses the AT&T network connection. (Basically, the only phone that doesn’t have browser limitations is the only phone that has a decent enough browser for actually surfing the good, I mean illicit, sites.) [AP/Yahoo]