The Online Mom CHOICE Award – Kajeet

Kajeet, the cell phone service for kids, recently published a set of guidelines to help parents and children manage their cell phone use. The guidelines are full of practical suggestions, like agreeing on appropriate cell phone etiquette, discussing picture messaging, and even agreeing a budget that can be divided up between parent and child.

It was a timely reminder that there is a cell phone service out there that is solely dedicated to providing a safe and affordable mobile communication platform for kids.

Kajeet was founded in 2003 by three dads. Thinking of their own children, they wanted a phone service that allowed kids to safely experiment with mobile tech before they graduated to the world of non-stop texting and always-connected smartphones.

The result is a service that has become the leader in safe and affordable cell phone plans for  kids, and one that is a worthy recipient of The Online Mom 2010 CHOICE Award.

Kajeet customers can currently choose from 12 different LG, Sanyo and Samsung phones. Prices range from $19.99 for a lightweight refurbished phone, all the way up to an LG Rumor, which includes a slide-out keyboard, an MP3 player, a 1.3 megapixel camera and built-in Bluetooth.

Service plans include Basic, which starts at $4.99 a month, and their Great Deal plan, which costs $29.99 a month for 300 voice minutes and unlimited texting. Best of all, there are no contracts, no activation fees, and no termination fees – and you can change your plan at any time!

Each plan comes with free parental controls, which allow parents to decide when the phone can be used, who the child can contact either by phone or text, and who can be blocked. There's even a tool for setting a budget and deciding who is responsible for certain calls or texts.

For an additional $9.99 a month, a Kajeet phone can become a GPS tracking device, providing the exact whereabouts of the phone at any given moment or at predetermined intervals.

Kajeet phones operate on the Sprint PCS network, providing national coverage if your child is away on school trips or at sleep-away camp.

If you think your child is ready for a cell phone but you are concerned about safety or don't want to commit to an expensive service plan, then Kajeet might be just what you're looking for!