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With More and More Children Having Their Own Wireless Phone, Parents Need to Be Careful About Choosing the Right Calling Plan
Fully produced report in MP3 format:
48 kbps |
96 kbps
(72 seconds)
-- How Will You Use This Story? --
(TEBO OPEN):
WIRELESS-PHONE OWNERSHIP HAS TOPPED 16-MILLION AMONG TEENS AND
"TWEENS" NATIONWIDE--WITH 44-PERCENT OF THE 10- TO 18-YEAR-OLDS IN THE
U-S OWNING A WIRELESS PHONE. WHILE MANY PARENTS SEE THE BENEFITS
OF LETTING THEIR CHILDREN GO WIRELESS, THEY ALSO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT
HIGH PHONE BILLS, RESPONSIBLE USE, AND SAFETY. ROBIN RASKIN--THE
"INTERNET MOM"--EXPLAINS...
(RASKIN):
"THERE'S A NEW SURVEY THAT WAS CONDUCTED FOR RADIO-SHACK.
AND, IT FOUND THAT HALF OF ALL ADULTS FEEL THE APPROPRIATE AGE FOR A
CHILD TO GET A WIRELESS PHONE IS ABOUT 16. NOW, THE SURVEY ALSO
FOUND THE PRIMARY REASONS FOR BUYING A PHONE ARE: FOR EMERGENCY USE, AND
AS A WAY TO REACH THE CHILDREN WHILE THEY'RE AWAY FROM HOME."
(TEBO CLOSE):
ALMOST 40-PERCENT OF ADULTS SURVEYED CITED CONCERN OVER HIGH MONTHLY BILLS
AS BEING THE PRIMARY FACTOR PREVENTING THEM FROM PURCHASING PHONES FOR
THEIR CHILDREN. TO KEEP COSTS UNDER CONTROL--AS WELL AS TO HELP
IMPART A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND OWNERSHIP IN THEIR CHILDREN--RASKIN
SAYS THAT PARENTS MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER OPTIONS FOR PRE-PAID WIRELESS
SERVICE. SHE ADDS THAT PARENTS SHOULD TALK TO THEIR TEENS ABOUT
COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH TEXT-MESSAGING AND DOWNLOADS--AND SELECT A PLAN
THAT ALLOWS THEM TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THEIR PHONE, WITHOUT BREAKING
THE BANK. TO HELP DETERMINE WHAT PHONES AND PLANS MAY BE RIGHT FOR
YOUR FAMILY, VISIT
"RADIO-SHACK"-DOT-COM. I'M BOB TEBO.
