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By Anna Crowe
October 13, 2011 (San Diego) -- 
Over the years, Halloween observance has evolved into a light-hearted celebration associated with candy and fun-spirited pranks. With an estimated 41 million trick-or-treaters roaming the streets nationwide in 2010, it is important to have fun and stay safe. Fortunately, technology that can help families--and won't get you spooked.
Over the years, Halloween observance has evolved into a light-hearted celebration associated with candy and fun-spirited pranks. With an estimated 41 million trick-or-treaters roaming the streets nationwide in 2010, it is important to have fun and stay safe. Fortunately, technology that can help families--and won't get you spooked.Wireless calling is routinely up on Halloween. Families can enjoy apps, videos and features to have fun while staying connected with calling, locator services and text messaging. In 2010, AT&T saw had 647 billion text messages sent across the AT&T’s network. The 2011 projection is 854 billion, nearly twice as many as two years ago.
AT&T has compiled a LIST OF SAFETY TIPS to keep for families to in mind before kids in East County hit the streets in search of goodies.
1. Go mobile and ensure accessibility: Make sure wireless phones are fully charged. Since costumes and carrying bags of candy can become cumbersome, consider using a belt clip or other accessory that keeps the phone within easy reach.
2. Secure the line of communication: Pre-program contact information of parents, neighbors and emergency services into your and your child’s speed dial, and be sure you know how to access these numbers with ease.
3. Establish boundaries: Families should have in place a familiarized route for children to follow while out on the town. Mobile navigation tools can assist parents and kids in creating routes, and goblins on the go can reference maps throughout the evening. Similarly, AT&T’s FamilyMap Viewer allows parents to easily and immediately locate a family member's whereabouts from their mobile device or PC so they can keep a close watch.
4. Be in touch: Set up periodic alarms with Halloween-themed tones as a reminder for trick-or-treaters to text or call home between candy collecting stops.
5. Keep ears on the ready: As part of a continued effort to remain aware of surroundings and keep smooth the lines of communication, sweet seekers should turn up their phone volume and listen for incoming call and message alerts.
6. Don’t miss a thing: Phones also come with photo, video and audio recorders, allowing spur-of-the-moment happenings to be captured and shared among friends and family in real time. AT&T’s Video Share allows you to see live video on your handset while a voice call is taking place.
7. Be a wireless Samaritan: Any suspicious behavior must be immediately reported to the proper authority and shared among neighbors, whose numbers should be on hand and in reach.\
8. Drive safely: With pedestrians filling streets and sidewalks, it is more important than ever for drivers to stay alert behind the wheel. If a call needs to be made or a message checked, pull over. Don’t text and drive. Check out AT&T DriveMode mobile application – it automatically sends a customizable reply to incoming texts – notifying the sender that the user is driving and unable to respond.
Have a safe, fun and Happy Halloween!
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