Sprint builds out Family Locator service

Sprint Nextel is building out its Family Locator tools for parents looking to keep an eye, or satellite, on their kids. The new additions include a PC-only version of the monitoring software as well as more Family Locator-enabled handsets. The carrier says 30 parent phones and 58 locatable child phones are now on the market-- that's up from 17 and 30, respectively. Verizon Wireless launched its own Chaperone Child Locator service in June that makes use of the kid-friendly Migo handsets. Arguably, Sprint's latest additions position it to compete better with an MVNO operating over its own networks: Disney Mobile. Disney jump-started the trend by announcing its Family Locator service with all the same features Sprint now supports.

For more on Sprint's Family Locator service build-out:
- see this press release