If you remember rushing home after school to use the family landline and call your best friend before dinner, Pinwheel’s new device aims to reboot that experience for a new generation.
The kid-focused tech company announced Tuesday the launch of Pinwheel Home, a modern take on the classic home phone designed to help kids stay connected without the distractions of their smartphones.
Pinwheel is positioning the phone as an introduction to phones for children ages 5 to 10 before they are ready for a smartphone. The company already sells kid-friendly smartphones and launched a smartwatch last year.
Instead of texting or doomscrolling on social media, Pinwheel Home is built specifically for voice calls. The company says the phone allows kids to independently call friends and family and practice basic phone skills without having to borrow a parent’s device, while encouraging more meaningful one-on-one conversations.
The launch comes amid growing concerns about the impact of technology on children’s development, with more parents looking for ways to reduce their children’s screen time. Research shows that excessive screen time is linked to emotional, behavioral and social problems. Additionally, a recent study from the University of Georgia found that children who spend more time on social media tend to have weaker vocabulary development over time, including difficulty recognizing and pronouncing words.
Specifically, the Pinwheel Home looks like a traditional landline phone, but operates over Wi-Fi, eliminating the need for a phone jack. Available in two models. The Spark starts at $68 and is available in white, black, blue, and purple. The Classic costs $79 and includes a retro-style phone, custom stickers, and is available in pink, black, and white.
For safety, parents control the device through Pinwheel’s caregiver portal, where they can approve contacts, block unknown callers, spam and robocalls, and set call schedules and time limits. Speed dial and voice mail are also available.
The company said future updates will introduce three-way calling functionality and integrate Pinwheel Home with watches and smartphones, allowing kids to use the same phone number across multiple devices while limiting screen time at home.
Countries such as Australia have restricted children’s access to social media, and the UK has announced plans for similar measures.
The device also joins other screen-free children’s communications products competing with the Tin Can, a $100 Wi-Fi-enabled landline phone that lets parents manage approved contacts through a companion app.
Calls between Pinwheel Home devices are free through the company’s Pinwheel Circle service. Families who want to call standard phone numbers can choose plans starting at $6.99 per month for up to five approved contacts or $9.99 per month for unlimited calls. (By comparison, calls between Tin Can devices are also free, and the Friends & Family plan costs $9.99 per month.)
Pinwheel Home is currently available through the company’s website and is scheduled to launch on Amazon this fall.
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