To help parents stay connected with their children and maintain some control of their children's wireless phone usage, Sprint today introduce the Sanyo SCP-2400.

Sanyo SCP-2400 More Photos View Specs

Offering free parental control features, the SCP-2400 allows parents to easily manage whom the child calls and who can call the child. A parent simply enters the phone numbers of those individuals the child is permitted to call and/or receive calls from in the phone's address book, and then clicks on the Parental Control icon on the main menu to limit use to Phone Book Only for both incoming and/or outgoing direct calls.

After the parent limits the phone's use in this way, other phone numbers would be restricted. Parents can also lock services like Sprint PCS Ready Link and Sprint PCS Vision, which can help the child to avoid data charges that may not be included as part of the families' wireless pricing plan.

The Sanyo SCP-2400 will be offered in stylish colors (Silver Sky, Midnight Black, Dark Bronze, True Blue and Misty Rose) to appeal to "tweens" and teens, supported by Sprint PCS Vision, Sprint PCS Ready Link, SMS Voice and Text Messaging, and Wireless Backup. Optional accessory packs will be available to complement the phone, including a Quick Start Guide for setting restrictions on the phone, a gift card for a customizable "skin" (i.e. sticker) for the child to outfit the phone, and a backpack clip for the child to secure the phone while on the go.

Sprint offers family-friendly services such as Sprint Family Locator, a location-based service that uses GPS technology to enable a parent to locate up to four of his or her children's devices, by using a compatible Sprint phone or a PC. Once a child is located using the service, the child receives a text message notification that the phone has been located, and the parent is provided a map along with the address, surrounding landmarks, and accuracy of the location within a specified radius.

Sprint Family Locator is permission based and password protected and is a service that supports open communication between a parent and child. For more information on compatible phones or Sprint Family Locator, visit www.sprint.com/familylocator .

The SCP-2400 by Sanyo will be available in early July for $179.99 or $29.99 after rebate with a two-year subscriber agreement. To complement the phone, an optional accessory pack will be available for $14.99.

- Sanyo SCP-2400 Specs