Thursday morning, T-Mobile said it was getting ready to launch a brand new service called Family Allowances next month. The great thing about it is that is gives parents control over how much money their children can spend on T-Mobile services every month.

Once having paid the introductory rate of US$2 a month, one can limit the total number of minutes, text messages and downloads family members can use each month. When the limit is reached, a notification is sent to the parent and then the decision to keep it or modify it must be taken. Any changes can easily be done by using an online tool.

In the case that the previously established limit is hit, certain features of the phone can still be used, including MyFaves and free mobile-to-mobile minutes. Furthermore, numbers included in the "always allow" category can be accessed at any given time, thus giving children the chance to contact their parents whenever something important comes up. Also, 911 calls can be dialed in any given circumstances.

Verizon also announced it would soon introduce a similar service. AT&T Wireless was the first company to offer parental control; its Smart Limits service was started last September. The monthly cost is of $5 and the system is pretty much the same as that described for T-Mobile. Sprint, the forth major US network, hasn’t issued any announcement with regard to any similar upcoming service, but it is very likely to do so quite soon.

Obviously enough, T-Mobile’s $2 introductory rate is not going to last forever; however, the company has yet to announce a date for the fee’s modification.