Frequently Asked Questions – AT&T Smart Limits for Wireless™

Everything you’d like to know about AT&T Smart Limits for Wireless

General Information
Browsing Limits
Download Limits
Blocked Numbers
Allowed Numbers
Time of Day Restrictions
Content Filters

General Information

Q. Who can purchase Smart Limits for Wireless?
A. AT&T Wireless customers with an AT&T handset and on an active AT&T postpaid rate plan. Log in to your myWireless account to subscribe and start setting limits today. If it is your first time visiting myWireless account, you will be asked to register. Smart Limits for Wireless is not available to corporate liable or prepaid accounts. Other restrictions may apply.

Q. Do I need access to the Internet to use AT&T Smart Limits for Wireless?
A. Yes, you need to have access to the Internet as well as a valid email account to use AT&T Smart Limits for Wireless. Subscribed customers can access AT&T Smart Limits for Wireless by going to att.com/myWireless. Once logged in, click on the mobile number subscribed to Smart Limits, there you will see the 'Manage AT&T Smart Limits for Wireless' link at the bottom of the Voice & Data Usage section.

Q. When I purchase AT&T Smart Limits for Wireless on my FamilyTalk plan, does it work for all of the mobile phones on my account?
A. No. You can only use AT&T Smart Limits for Wireless on the specific mobile phones that are subscribed to the service.

Q. Can I add Smart Limits for Wireless to my child's phone at any time?
A. Yes, you can add Smart Limits for Wireless to your child's phone anytime during your billing cycle.

IMPORTANT: If you set up Smart Limits for Wireless in the middle of the billing cycle, the following warning message will be displayed: "You added the AT&T Smart Limits for Wireless feature to your account after your current billing cycle began. The limits you create for this first billing cycle may need to be lower than what you would normally choose to allow for your child's usage before AT&T Smart Limits for Wireless was activated." On the first day of your next full billing cycle you will receive an email reminder to reset your limits based on a full month of your plan allowances.

Q. What if my child needs to use the phone for an emergency?
A. Calls to and from 911 are always allowed. In addition, the Allowed Numbers feature enables you to set numbers that your child can continue to call or text, regardless of the limits you set. We recommend that you set your own phone number(s) as Allowed Numbers, and the numbers of anyone else your child may need to reach in case of an emergency. The maximum amount of Allowed Numbers per child is 15.

Q. How will my child know when he/she has reached their limits?
A. Your child will receive an alert message on their handset when they approach the text, browsing, and download limits you've set. The alert will indicate the limit that has been set and the remaining amount available for the current billing cycle. Example: “You have xxxx Text/IM msgs remaining. Your monthly limit is xxxx msgs set by your wireless acct owner.”
Once a limit is reached, there will be a notification that the action is restricted. Example: “We're sorry, but you cannot send this text message due to limits set by your wireless account owner.”

Q. Can I get limit notifications for my child on my mobile phone?
A. This feature is not available at this time. However, you can check the Individual Limits/Restrictions Summary in Smart Limits for Wireless online to view your child's monthly usage for Text/Instant Messages, Browsing, as well as Downloads.

Q. Can I set different limits for each of my children?
A. Yes, different limits can be applied for each child that is subscribed to AT&T Smart Limits for Wireless and the limits can be changed at any time.

Q. Can I make modifications to the limits I set for my child?
A. Yes, AT&T Smart Limits for Wireless users can make modifications to limits they have set for their child at any time and the changes will be effective immediately.

Q. Can I set a limit for the number of minutes my child can talk on his/her cell phone?
A. This feature is not available at this time. However, you can use the Time of Day Restrictions feature to reduce outgoing calls and the Blocked Numbers feature to block calls to/from numbers you designate as blocked.

Q. Will I be able to change my AT&T Smart Limits for Wireless settings from my child's phone or from my phone?
A. You cannot change your child's limits from your phone or your child's phone at this time. You can only change your child's limits online.

Q. Will AT&T Smart Limits for Wireless work while my child is roaming off the AT&T network?
A. Yes, as long as your child is roaming on a domestic AT&T partner carrier that has compatible technology, AT&T Smart Limits for Wireless will work. View coverage for AT&T Smart Limits for Wireless. Note that depending on your rate plan, roaming charges may still apply.

Browsing Limits

Q. Does Browsing Limits work for restricting all types of data usage?
A. We're sorry, but Browsing Limits will not work for restricting Web browsing usage through non-MEdia™ Net Internet browsers. Certain data-centric devices such as smartphones and BlackBerry® devices offer non-MEdia™ Net browsers. In addition, Browsing Limits will not block or restrict a user's data usage if the user is also subscribed to DataConnect, LaptopConnect, tethering (connecting a wireless device to a laptop) or Blackberry services, while the user is in Wi-Fi mode, or while using iPhone software version 3.0 or later.

Q. Will sending/receiving instant messages impact my browsing limit?
A. It depends. When using an IM client that is pre-installed on the device, the charges will be rated as text messages and will not have an affect on your Browsing Limits. However, other IM clients that are accessed via the Internet or that are not pre-installed on the device will be charged data charges and will affect your Browsing Limits.

Download Limits

Q. If I set Purchase Blocker to "On" for my child's phone in MEdia™ Net, will the Download Limit used in AT&T Smart Limits for Wireless conflict with this setting?
A. Yes. If you have activated the Purchase Blocker feature in MEdia Net Parental Controls, you will need to change that setting for the Download Limit in AT&T Smart Limits for Wireless to work. Just access MEdia Net Parental Controls on your child's phone and set the Purchase Blocker to "Off", then set your Download Limits in AT&T Smart Limits for Wireless. You can also access the Purchase Blocker setting via the Content Filters link within AT&T Smart Limits for Wireless.

Blocked Numbers

Q. Can AT&T Smart Limits for Wireless be used to block all anonymous or unknown callers?
A. We're sorry, but at this time Smart Limits for Wireless feature cannot be used to block all inbound calls received from private/anonymous callers.

Q. Can I set 411 or international-dialed numbers as Blocked Numbers?
A. We're sorry, but the Blocked Numbers feature cannot currently be used to block 411 or international-dialed numbers that are not 10 digits.

Allowed Numbers

Q. How does Caller ID impact the Allowed Numbers list?
A. If the Caller ID on an incoming call is not available, it cannot be recognized as an Allowed Number. Therefore, there may be instances where an incoming text message from an Allowed Number cannot reach your child when AT&T Smart Limits for Wireless restrictions are in effect.

Time of Day Restrictions

Q. Can my child call voicemail to check messages during a Time of Day Restriction?
A. Time of Day Restrictions can be used to block messaging, browsing, and outbound calling. Voicemail retrieval is blocked during Time of Day Restrictions unless the voicemail retrieval phone number is added as an Allowed Number. Dial 611 from your handset or 1-800-331-0500 for customer service if you do not know the voicemail retrieval number for your child's phone.

Q. Do Time of Day Restrictions work for restricting all types of data usage?
A. We're sorry, but Time of Day Restrictions will not work for restricting Web browsing usage through non-MEdia™ Net Internet browsers. Certain data-centric devices such as smartphones and BlackBerry® devices offer non-MEdia™ Net browsers. In addition, Time of Day Restrictions will not block or restrict a user's data usage if the user is also subscribed to DataConnect, LaptopConnect, tethering (connecting a wireless device to a laptop) or Blackberry services, while the user is in Wi-Fi mode, or while using iPhone software version 3.0 or later.

Content Filters

Q. Does Content Filtering work on all handsets?
A. We're sorry, but Media™ Net Parental Controls Content Filters do not block access to the Web through non-Media Net Internet browsers. Certain data-centric devices such as smartphones, the iPhone, and BlackBerry® offer non-Media Net browsers. No filtering is 100% accurate and AT&T does not guarantee filtering accuracy.