Safer phones for kids: the companies offering alternatives to smartphones

[Pilgrim]

Parents looking for a safer first phone have more choices than ever. TechCrunch has rounded up companies building phones designed for children, as more parents look for alternatives to giving kids a full smartphone

Bark Phone runs on Samsung Galaxy hardware and costs $240, with plans from $29 a month. Gabb phones start at around $159.99, with service from about $24.99 a month, and have no social media, browser or app store

Pinwheel phones start at around $119, with a caregiver portal costing $14.99 a month, and the company also sells landline phones for $68 and $79. Teracube's Thrive costs $99, with plans from $35 a month, and runs its own version of Android called Thrive OS

For home use, the Ooma MyPhone is a $99.99 phone with service from $7.99 a month that only calls approved contacts. Tin Can costs $100, works over Wi-Fi and has a $9.99 monthly plan

Giving children a way to stay in touch without the full internet is a sensible middle ground for many families. Home phones that only call approved contacts are a clever idea for younger kids. Monthly fees add up, though, so comparing total costs matters

At what age should children get a smartphone? And would you choose one of these alternatives for your child?

Parents want safer phones for kids - these companies are answering the call | TechCrunchtechcrunch.com