t-mobile for families: (and phone giveaway)

My kids are not yet ready for cell phones, though they ask almost every day if they can please please please  pretty please have one.

And as often as I explain to them that no, no, no they cannot have their own cell phone (. . . or television or computer or tablet or iPad in their bedroom), I often hand them my phone to play games or find the nearest geocache or to chat with their grandparents or aunts or uncles or cousins.

The fact is that my kids don’t need a phone at their tender ages–8, 7, and 5.

(And the fact is that cell phones aren’t really just cell phones anymore, right? They’re mobile devices. So that our little worlds can mobilize and everyone on our lives can reach us at any time, any where.)

But, I–their mama–need a good mobile device.   The fact is that a lot of the work I do is online, so I really want—and need— a device that is reliable and fast and gets me to where I need to go quickly–and consistently.

And I need a phone that helps me stay organized, connected, and on top of what our family needs.

I am pretty sure I found everything I want in both a mobile device–and a carrier–and I’m thrilled to share it today because part of what I love doing here is sharing what works for us in the hopes that it helps another little familia.

Not only do I have a fab T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G to give away to one awesome and incredible (and lucky) teach mama reader, but I also want to share why I really like what this company has goin’ on.

Here’s the skinny. . .

• T-Mobile for Families (and Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G Giveaway!): I had a chance to chat with some folks from T-Mobile this past spring and summer, and quite frankly, I’m surprised at the options T-Mobile has for families.

Having never really looked into their family resources–having not really needed them–I was floored.

The Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G is a perfect fit for my hand. I totally heart this phone.

My husband and I are longtime T-Mobile customers (over 12 years now!), so knowing that we’ve invested our time and money into a company who has lined up a ton of resources for families makes me. . . well, just pretty darn happy.  Because it means we can get nice and comfy here where we are and not have to worry about finding new mobile carriers when we decide to get phones for Maddy, Owen, and Cora.

Some of the ways T-Mobile helps families stay organized include a bundle of really awesome apps and services, like:

• MobileLife Family Organizer — T-Mobile has partnered with Cozi (a company I totally heart) to create resources and apps that help families stay organized.  With this free organizer, you can not only create calendars, to-do lists, shopping lists that sync with your Microsoft Outlook calendar, but you can also create a family journal, photo collages, and more.  It’s crazy. So easy, and everything you do on your desktop can sync with your mobile device.

And the super-insanely cool thing is that the app is available for download in four marketplaces: Google Play, Amazon Appstore for Android, Blackberry App World™ and the Apple App Store, anyone in the fam can use it, regardless of the type of device they are using.

• Family Allowances — Keeps costs under control by setting upfront limits on minutes, messages, and downloads.
• Price and Plans — I think they’re more than reasonable, especially for the reliability and quality of service.  And though at this point my husband and I are on the Family Plan–plain and simple–we’ve found it makes for easy upgrades and a plan that works for us.

My happy little organized phone makes me so very happy.

And some ways T-Mobile helps families stay safe (which I think is muy importante once kids get their own cell phones. . . ):

• Lookout Security — T-Mobile has also partnered with Lookout Inc. to hook up their phones with some serious security.  Lookout has antivirus, malware protection as well as services that help you find your phone when it’s lost, even when the phone’s ringer is off.
• FamilyWhere — A service that lets parents know where kids are by the location of their children’s phones.  Family members ‘check-in’ when they arrive at different locations, and parents can set up notifications and alerts for when children are supposed to arrive, be picked up, you name it.
• WebGuard — Allows parents to monitor their kids’ time on the web. Parents can activate this to restrict adult content on the web, with settings for Child, Teen, and Young Adult, which I think is super-awesome and smart.
• Message Blocking — Parents can activate this feature to prevent children from downloading unwanted messages and content.
• T-Mobile Mobile Backup — A feature that does just that: backs up the photos, videos, and information on the device because. . . goodness knows sometimes we need it.

It’s just a stepping stone, but I’m happy to share–and though every family is not the same, it’s what works for us now and what I believe will work for us down the road!

Some photos from some recent T-Mobile events

 

 

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GIVEAWAY: T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Blaze 4G

Do you want your very own super awesome incredible T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Blaze 4G?  Seriously? Who wouldn’t!?

All you have to do is leave a comment here telling me what YOU look for in a cell phone.

For extra entries, get creative!!:

• Tweet this: 

• Win a @TMobile Samsung Galaxy Blaze 4G on @teachmama http://wp.me/p1NAxy-2fe #weteach #giveaway

• Share this post on your Facebook page–very easy!

• Share this post with a friend (just tell me who you shared it with!)

• Pin this post on Pinterest! (Use ‘pin it!’ button below post!)

• G+  this poston Google+  (Use the G+ button below post!)

By entering this giveaway, you are demonstrating your understanding of and compliance with the Official Sweepstakes Rules.

This giveaway ends Friday, October 19, 2012 at midnight ET. Winner will be chosen by ‘And the Winner is. . .’ and will be notified on or around 10/19/12.  Winner must respond within three (3) days of notification or forfeit the prize, in which case an alternate winner will be selected.  All Official Sweepstakes Rules apply.

fyi: This is an unsponsored post.  All opinions are my own, influenced only by my three little cell-phone coveters, my husband, and I, as longtime T-Mobile customers.  I am grateful to have received my own cell phone along with one to give to one of my readers.