This post has been written by 5 Minutes for Mom contributor, Teresa. We were compensated to write this post, however all opinions listed are my own.
It is very rare these days to see anyone without a smart phone, a tablet and a laptop. If an individual is not carrying one of these items, they can be found carrying all three (or maybe even more). Everyone wants the instant availability of built-in 4G wireless broadband in their equipment. Even children. This includes my children. They love to stay connected.
I had touched a bit last month on how we use our AT&T Unite mobile wi-fi hotspot and our iPod Touches to stay connected instead of a pricey cell phone bill for my son. We used to pay a full phone bill for him when all he really did was use his phone for the 4G capabilities and messaging. We were paying for him to have mobile internet and make only a few calls per month. Silly, right?
We happily turned off my son’s phone and now use his iPod Touch and our AT&T Unite unit together for staying connected. Yes, we turned his iPod Touch into a virtual cell phone, and at a much lower cost to us. We get most of the benefits of a smartphone for a fraction of the cost.
How does one enable phone and text messaging on an iPod Touch connected to a mobile hotspot you ask? It is so simple.
Simply install Skype(or Google Voice) on your iPod Touch (which we had already done with all three of my children’s iPod Touches due to traveling parents). We also added a premium Skype service to all the children’s accounts.
Next, install a texting app on the iPod Touches. If your children are like mine, you already have this step completed. There are hundreds of apps and there are even some that are free that will allow one to send and receive texts over wi-fi as long as you are connected to your mobile hotspot.
That. Is. All.
Advantages
The savings is worth it. We cut out a $600.00 a year expense. iPod Touches are less expensive than a cellular phone and don’t require any lengthy contracts.
The AT&T Unite mobile hotspot will allow you to connect your other devices as well; it’s like getting a data plan for multiple tablets, laptops and iPod Touches!
My children love to send and receive calls and text in the back seat while we are running about town between activities. We are gladly using our iPod Touches with our AT&T Unite! We love our iPod phones!
AT&T Unite is currently $0.99 with a 2-year contract and only $20 per month if added to your family mobile share plan. This is a perfect little stuffer for stockings this holiday season.
For more information, visit att.com/Unite or connect with WiFi Family on Facebook.
Teresa is a family lifestyle photographer who is happy homeschooling her three children in the Christian classical education theory in the suburbs of Chicago. You can find her on her blog Tiaras & Tantrums or on Twitter as @tiarastantrums.
Love this idea, My son isn’t old enough yet only being 4 but this is a brilieant idea sosave on an extra phone bill. Never tought to just use skype for the phonee part of it.