Firefly cellphone for kids reviewed

We checked out the Firefly cellphone for kids a couple of months ago, and found it to be a pretty slick little device that could actually serve a specialized market. MobileBurn gave it a good working over, and agreed. Though they found the parental-control menus difficult to navigate, once the phone is set up, it's simplicity defined: kids can call mom, dad or 911 with a single button, dial other approved numbers via an address book, and incoming calls from unapproved numbers can be blocked. There's a little eye candy in the form of an animated "fireworks" display, and a handful of ringtones as well. While this is likely to be a hit with parents (who now have access to all sorts of gadgets to track their kids), we expect that tweens will quickly demand a "real" cellphone instead, while younger kids might need additional functions (i.e., games, music) to be enticed into carrying it.

[Rick @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

$.25 per minute calls!

[Jazzay @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

yes cause this is what we need, cell phone radiation in the thin skulls of pre-preteens, good job firefly, you brought brain cancer to a whole new generation!

[DM @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Why is the gal on the buttons wearing a long gown, and the guy wearing nothing?

[Derek @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

I don't think being able to dial 911 with one easy press is a good idea when your carrying it in your pocket or backpack.

[Katelinn @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

I agree with Derek. That may not be a good thing. It's a nifty idea, though.

[TZK @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

I think a kid young enough to want or care to carry this is going to over use this and piss his parents off. Anyone older than say.. 8, is going to want something else than this chunk of plastic in their pockets, if all it does it display a fireworks ensamble on this small screen.

What needs to be done, is an OS that can perform the same gunctions like banning unwanted calls, area codes and so on, with ease rather than having a dedicated piece of toilet food like this.

[camster @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

"I don't think being able to dial 911 with one easy press is a good idea when your carrying it in your pocket or backpack."

There was a review in our paper about this and you have to hold the 911 button and press another one for it to call.

[happy gilmore @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

can you imagine all of the accidents that are gonna happen when a kid is using his cell phone while riding his bike?!?

[TC @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

#3 - maybe the woman is wearing nothing and just has a fat ass. I'm amazed that in this day and age where we can invent a mobile for kids, that we still have generic Mom and Dad buttons. Strikes me that nowdays most people have single parents or several stepdads or lesbian/gay testube biological parents. Where are the buttons for that?

[Jen @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

How about "carry this or you're grounded" and "when I call you better damn answer."

[krissi @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

I think this is a great idea! I have 3 kids - ages 11, 7, and 6. This is perfect for them and will give me peace of mind knowing they can call me or 911 for help in an emergency (think about it - how many kidnappers would ever suspect the kid they snatch has a cell?)!!

[Edwardo Rodruigez(AY CHA CHA CHA!) @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

This peice o' crap sucks. No keypad. And 100 bucks? I can get a regulay cell for only 49.99!

[FireFly @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

I think we should give kids a bit more credit. They can easily master a game controller with a dozen buttons on it. This phone has 5 simple buttons. 2 are "send" and "end", one is the scroll for the address book and the other 2 are for mommy and daddy.

Parents decide who can call the phone and what numbers the kid can dial. This isn't a phone that the kid will have glued to his/her ear all day and ring up $500/month in charges.

[are you serious @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

I am reading some of the comments about how kids wouldn't be caught dead with this hunk of plastic in their pocket.

There's nothing wrong with this phone, there is however something seriously wrong with parents of these kids. Buying them $200 cell phones with IM, camera...everything they don't need more of in their lives.

And the post about accidents talking on the phone and ride their bikes. If the phone is only programmed to call mom/dad and 911...what normal kid (unless there is an emergency) would be calling their parents...on a bike or otherwise.

As another post said...if you don't like this phone, use the pay phone.

[Funky_Monkey @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

I'm a kid myself and I think it would be awesome to have this cellphone. I could easily call my parents to tell them where i'll be and what time i'm gonna be home, if i need to call 911 and there's no payphone around one click of a button and i've called..now the only problem is that it's only one click of a button..i know my mom always accidently presses buttons when it's in her pocket..so would someone get in trouble for calling 911 and not answering when the police pick up?? Well i wish i had one of these things!

[Sandy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

I am thinking of getting this phone for my 10 year old. He is thrilled to be getting a 'real cellphone' like the rest of the family and he understands that there is limited calling. I agree that $100 for a phone is pricey, but the piece of mind I will have knowing I can call him and he can call me will be priceless.

[Ricardo Galbis @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Well, this is a great idea for two reasons. One, phone companies are ripping out public payphones by the dozens due to cellphones and in this day and age of constant problems, terrorist fears, and school shootings...its always good to have a way to get in touch. When I was in high school I always had my cell phone in my pocket, I would want my kid in elementary school to do the same for safety, not entertainment.

[Lee @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Forget the kids. I'm thinking of buying one of these for my 87 year old mother, who can't see well enough to hit the right keys or read the phone book in a regular cell phone, and her cordless land-line phone is too big to cart around all the time just in case she falls when she's at home alone.

[chelsea @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

I don't think this is such a good idea.
Number one is it really that good to be able to call 911 at the touch of the button? What if it accidently gets hit?
Number two, it looks like a baby cell phone. Maybe 8 and below would want it but the older kids want real looking cell phones to show off to their friends and such.

[Jennifer @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

This is a great asset for kids in sports, after school activities, day camps etc. There have been several times I have waited with other kids for their parents to arrive because some activity has let out early. With this phone, they simply press a button and make the call, PLUS as an added bonus, your child is learning to CALL you if they are going to be late etc. at an earlier age. This is a good way to give your child some responsibility without the worry. I plan to BUY IT!

[tayyat @ Dec 26th 2005 11:38AM]

i am 11 years old and i got a firefly for christmas this year i love it,but i would rather a REAL cell phone for other reasons,but besides that i LOVE it