Kajeet

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Kajeet is an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) tailored specifically for families. It provides fully capable phones to its customers, trusting that parents will set service limitations while children will learn how to use a real cell phone. Kajeet prides itself on its no-contract, no-fee service, and offers both monthly and pay-as-you-go options. It doesn't make its own devices, however.

The Kajeet service is primarily made up of two things: the Kajeet Navigator, which is a Web portal software application found on all its phones, and the Kajeet Configurator, a Web-based application that you can access from your PC's browser. The Configurator is key to Kajeet's brilliance: it's where parents can add a phone for another kid, set up approved and blocked phone numbers, decide who pays for which calls and what features, manage when phones can and can't be used, view calls made to and by their kids, check the balance in their Kajeet "wallets," and view the complete details of the calling plan. A Kajeet "wallet" is essentially where you put the money you use to pay for the service--parents can even allocate set amounts to their kids' "wallets" as a sort of allowance so that they can learn money management. Because Kajeet is a pay-as-you-go service, the wallet is also a handy tool to monitor the balance of your account.

There are four levels of access, which parents can toggle on or off. They are Free Sites (Dictionary, Google Maps, and Sports IQ), a select list of kid-approved sites, social networking and IM, and the open Internet. The first option is free while the others are $0.25 per megabyte. Kids are not charged when browsing their "my Kajeet" page for new ringtones and graphics, however.

Kajeet utilizes the Sprint backbone to deliver its service. It is compatible with a variety of previously Sprint-only handsets that can be purchased directly from Kajeet, including the Sanyo 2700, the Samsung M300, and the LG 125. The cell phones' software remains exactly the same as it is on the Sprint versions, save for one primary difference: the Kajeet Navigator application. Essentially a sleek and colorful Web portal, the Kajeet Navigator provides access to a slew of music ringtones, wallpapers, and games. Each Kajeet phone should already come preloaded with a few of these things for free (our Katana came with four free ringtones and four free demo games), but you always have the option to download more for a fee. You can also purchase Nickelodeon-themed mobile content from such shows as "The Rugrats," "Fairly Oddparents," or "Spongebob Squarepants." The "Spongebob Squarepants" theme song costs $2.50.