The MO1 kidsphone

We've seen more than a couple of cellies for kids come out, and we just spotted another one at CES from a company calledItsImagical (that's their name, yo!) that claims to have the most "Original and Trendiest Mobile Phone for Children". We're especially happy that six year olds will no longer have to suffer the injustice of carrying around last season's handsets, but what's really noteworthy about the MO1 (which is basically a simplified GSM handset) is that it offers a handful of special features (and limitations), including the ability to limit all outgoing and incoming calls to numbers in the phone's address book; to limit text messages, not send them, and even then it can only receive from people in the address book; two speed dial buttons which can be preset to call mom and dad; an emergency call button. We're not sure whether the MO1, which is currently available in Spain, will ever make it to the States, but it did seem like ItsImagical were at CES to try and drum up some business.

[Nando @ Jan 12th 2007 11:37AM]

That's cute.

I'm not quite sure why kids would need cell phones unless they were going on a trip without their parents or something like that.

[andy @ Jan 12th 2007 11:55AM]

As the recent case in MO points out, these phones could serve a specific purpose. However, I really think they need the GPS tracking capability as well to put them over the top on accomplishing that purpose.

You don't need a full plan, but as here (MO), if your kid should be abducted, it'd be nice to track them.

[Rick Lyon @ Jan 12th 2007 11:56AM]

I've always wondered about these kid phones. Do they work with whatever your existing network may be? Does it does like adding an additional phone to your current plan? Or is there a separate carrier for these phone?

[andy @ Jan 12th 2007 12:11PM]

I've looked a little, and it looks like it's just another phone that is password protected and has settings that most phones don't. YOU USB it up, and through supplied software: YOU set a password, YOU set the phone numbers, YOU set the text limits, etc.

basically, you pay just like it's another razr, but you can limit what your child does with it. Not to mention a 3y/o might not be able to handle a real phone (home or cell), but they can find the MOM, DAD, and 911 buttons on this phone by color if nothing else.

[tiuk @ Jan 12th 2007 12:53PM]

What if the child has same-sex parents? The "mommy" and "daddy" icons on this phone may be confusing.

[Rick Lyon @ Jan 12th 2007 1:11PM]

Don't some same sex arrangements have a dominant partner ho plays the dad? Or at least if one has short hair they'd match the icon. What about single parents? Or kids with a parent that just passed away? I mean come on, you can't make everyone happy any of the time.

[Bryan @ Jan 12th 2007 12:58PM]

Looks like Mama's warming up her backhand!

[Evil Closet Monkey @ Jan 12th 2007 1:13PM]

So with the two blue buttons I can call my (1) baby brother on the left or (2) my cat on the right?

[MikeN @ Jan 12th 2007 1:14PM]

Or what if the dad has long hair and the mom has a butch cut?! Gasp! Give me a break.

[MikeN @ Jan 12th 2007 1:16PM]

Lol, I was going to say either cat, or a happy dust mite. The one on the left looks strikingly similar to Ike from South Park

[airpolgas @ Jan 12th 2007 1:20PM]

A better solution would be to have a touch-screen like the iPhone, but pre-filled with Miis! We all have our Miis at home, and the kids know their Miis. Click a Mii = Call that Mii.

Anyway, OK back to reality! :)

[Josh @ Jan 12th 2007 2:01PM]

So what happens when the 3yo thinks it's fun to press the emergency button ten times a day?

[Nando @ Jan 12th 2007 3:05PM]

What if the child is raised by wolves? Will the buttons have a wolf's head or would the kid get eaten by them?

[teodoro @ Jan 12th 2007 3:42PM]

What if the dad is bald and has no hair. Can a 6 year old tell the difference when the dad button clearly has a 'fro of hair?

[joshua conti @ Jan 12th 2007 5:02PM]

actually they intend to market this to habitual drunks. with a speed dial for a taxi, large easy to find buttons that glow in the dark and a barf proof casing- bartenders will be in heaven...