Sprint Nextel announced that customers can access its Family Locator service from any Web-enabled Sprint handset.

“Sprint has always been proud to offer Sprint Family Locator on a wider range of phones than similar services from competitors, and now we’ve expanded it even further so customers have more choice for themselves and their children,” said Kevin Packingham, vice president of wireless data for Sprint, in a statement. “Our customers are telling us that this is a life-saving service that can be used not only for children, but also for elderly relatives, or even just to find a lost phone.”

Sprint launched its Family Locator service in April 2006; the service allows users on the go to locate one another using a handsets GPS technology. Parents can log-in on their phones or PCs to locate a child on an interactive map, even when the child is using his or her phone to make a call or send a text. The service also gives the address, surrounding landmarks and accuracy of the child’s location within a specified radius, along with the ability to click to call or send a text to the child directly from the service.

The service also allows a parent to set Safety Checks at certain landmarks such as a school, home or relative’s house, at specified times. The parent is automatically notified whether the handset is near the specified landmark at the set time, providing “hands-off” peace of mind.

Sprint Family Locator is available for $9.99 per month. Unlimited location requests for up to four phones and access to the service from a PC and any Web-enabled Sprint phone are included in the monthly charge.