NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif.—Disney Mobile has begun selling phones and service through its Web site and by phone, officially launching the mobile virtual network operator service that promises parents a high degree of control over how much and when their children can use their wireless phones.
The family service plans start at $60 per month for 450 minutes and range as high as $250 per month for 4,500 minutes. All the family plans include two lines of service, and additional lines can be added for another $10 per month. The service requires a two-year contract, credit approval and is limited to nine phones per family account. All lines are subject to an activation fee: $35 for the first line and $25 for each additional line.
All Disney Mobile plans include access to the MVNO’s signature features: setting minute allowances, unlimited prioritized messages to family members, limits on what days and times a child’s phone can be used, and tracking a child’s handset using GPS. Five free location requests per month are included. All plans also include nationwide long distance and unlimited night and weekend calling. Additional services—such as roadside assistance and messaging packages—are available at an extra cost.
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For parents who are still in the midst of a wireless contract with another carrier, the company is encouraging them to sign up their child with a plan until the parent’s contract is up—and the parent still can use the Family Center features by logging into the Disney Mobile Web site. Individual lines of service start at $40 per month for 400 minutes and max out at 3,500 minutes for $170 per month.
Text messages are 10 cents to send and receive and picture messages are 25 cents apiece. Downloads are extra, although Disney Mobile indicated that users will have access to a “selection of Disney content free throughout the year.”
The service has one handset available currently, the silver clamshell DM-P100 from Pantech Wireless Inc. for $60 with a two-year contract. A red clamshell, the DM-L200 from LG Electronics Co. Ltd., is listed as “coming soon.” Until July 31, Disney Mobile is offering a buy-one-get-one deal on the Pantech handset. Both handsets have built-in cameras, color screens and Web-browsing capabilities; the LG handset will be Bluetooth-enabled.
The MVNO has indicated that it will sell the phones and service through a national network of kiosks and expand its presence to traditional retailers later this year.
