LG Electronics Co. Ltd. appears to be joining the likes of Enfora L.P., Firefly Mobile Inc. and Wherify Wireless Inc. in selling mobile phones to children. According to documents filed with the Federal Communications Commission, LG is prepping the child-friendly VX1000 with Verizon Wireless service.
LG’s device features a tiny, black-and-white screen, two stubby antennas and only a handful of buttons-including a button for 911 calls. According to the FCC filing, which includes references to Verizon Wireless, the CDMA phone features “simple functions and small size for children.”
An LG official was not immediately available to comment on the device. A Verizon Wireless spokeswoman declined to comment.
LG’s phone appears to be the latest aimed at children and parents interested in staying in touch with their children. Such phones generally feature a restricted address book, meaning that users can dial and receive calls only from a select set of parent-approved numbers. The phones also generally lack extra features like Web access and text-messaging services.
Enfora, along with partner LeapFrog Enterprises Inc., is selling online its TicTalk GSM phone for $100. The companies have not announced a carrier partner, although documents filed with the FCC include references to T-Mobile USA Inc.
Firefly is also selling its $100 GSM phone through its Web site. The company is working with Cingular Wireless L.L.C.
Wherify said it will sell its global positioning system-capable GSM phone for around $150 through retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc. starting this fall. The company initially had planned to launch its device in the second quarter, but “sometimes going to market takes a little longer than planned,” said John Cunningham, Wherify’s director of communications. Wherify’s Wherifone will include postpaid service plans starting at around $20 per month.
