Kids' Cell Phones: Reviews

Updated April 2008

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The best cell phone service for kids

Kajeet

From $5 monthly Compare Prices

Reviewers generally reserve the highest praise for the Kajeet cell phone service for kids, but add that it is probably best for older children. Kajeet uses full-featured "regular" handsets from LG, Sanyo, Samsung and… other manufacturers that are identical to the ones used by regular Sprint subscribers (Kajeet uses the Sprint service network). Reviewers especially like the "configurator" feature, where parents can block phone numbers, add phones and check balances. Kids can customize phones with wallpaper, ringtones and games, at an extra cost. Text and picture messaging is supported. An optional GPS locator service (*est. $10 monthly) let's parents find and track the location of their child's cell phone online.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Yahoo! Tech: Dory Devlin's tech column is geared to parents. She says her kids like Kajeet, and it's a learning tool because you can impose a ...

CNet.com: CNET's review is based mainly on an analysis of features, with no evidence of hands-on testing. The handful of user ratings ...

BestBuy.com: A scattering of owner reviews are spread between two Kajeet phones at BestBuy.com, the Sanyo Katana II and the LG 160. (The ...

DisneyFamily.com: This blog post says Kajeet seems like a good solution for parents who are uncomfortable giving a conventional cell phone to ...

Amazon.com: A number of Kajeet phones in different colors each get a handful of user reviews. The Samsung m300 gets rave reviews from half of ...

Buzzillions.com: There are 14 reviews of Kajeet's Sanyo Katana II phone on Buzzillions, a review aggregator. All the reviews were originally ...

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Best cell phone for younger kids

Firefly glowPhone

*Est. $50 Compare Prices

Though it's not perfect, reviews say that the Firefly glowPhone is a significant improvement over the original Firefly phone for younger kids (about age eight to 12). Experts like that it is compact and easy to use, with… dedicated buttons to call parents and emergency services. There's no keypad; kids can only call pre-approved numbers stored in the glowPhone's phone book. Parents can choose to allow only incoming calls from those same numbers. Text messages can be received but not sent. The phone can't download ringtones, wallpaper or games, but some come preloaded with the phone. Call quality is criticized in some reviews, however.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

CNet.com: CNet tests the glowPhone and finds its lack of features troubling - it can receive but not send text messages, for instance. ...

PCMag.com: PC Magazine says the Firefly glowPhone is best for younger children. Testing reveals that durability might be a problem, however. ...

PCMag.com: PC Magazine's Sascha Segan recommends the Firefly glowPhone in this video, but he notes the phone has speed-dial buttons with ...

Amazon.com: The Firefly glowPhone (pink) gets a small number of user reviews, most rating it three stars or less out of five. Complaints are ...

ConsumerReports.org: Consumer Reports rates cell phones but not cell phones geared specifically for children. This free report addresses things ...

About.com: Dr. Vincent Iannelli, About.com's Guide to Pediatrics, discusses the pros and cons of buying a cell phone for your child and ...

Buzzillions.com: There are about 10 reviews of the black Firefly glowPhone, and roughly 15 reviews of the pink model. Most are positive, but ...

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