It has no screen, applications, games or text messages, but it has new features, such as the “HAHA” button, which tells a daily joke.
In a world dominated by smartphones, the “landline” telephone could make a strong comeback. At least that is the intention of the creators of the Tin Cana modern device designed specifically for children.
With a retro and colorful design, the device includes a coiled cord typical of landline telephones of the past. It has no screen, apps, games or text messages.
Despite trying to offer a safe, screen-free alternative to smartphones, it maintains a connection to the digital world, as it is Wi-Fi compatible. The connection allows you to make voice calls, something that promises to encourage “independence and more personal relationships with friends and family”.
Once connected to Wi-Fi, the Tin Can can be managed via a parent app. There, it is possible to define the numbers authorized to contact the device, blocking spam calls and unknown contacts.
It is also possible to program times for “do not disturb” mode, such as during the night, when the phone does not make or receive calls. The device also includes a voicemail box and some fun extras, such as dialing “HAHA” to hear a daily joke.
Stay away from applications and social networks
The company behind Tin Can was co-founded in Seattle by Chet Kittleson, Graeme Davies and Max Blumen. The idea was born from Kittleson’s experience as a father, trying to find a way for his children to communicate with friends without the complexity and risks associated with smartphones. The motivation is linked to the debate about the so-called “anxious generation” and the .
In an initial investment, the company raised around 3 billion euros. The price of the product varies between around 75 and 100 dollars (approximately 65 and 86 euros): it depends on the model.
The device can be used with the “Can 2 Can” plan, which is free and allows unlimited calls to any other Tin Can phone, using a five-digit identification number. The features can be expanded with the “Party Line” plan, which costs $9.99 per month (around €8.60). This plan is necessary to make and receive calls from external numbers, such as cell phones and other landlines, as long as they are part of the approved contact list.
For now, Tin Can’s landline is only available in Canada and the United States.
