This phone is child’s play

Most of the world agrees on the fact that buying a phone for your child is not a great idea. Family groups on WhatsApp are loaded with messages that scream about the perils of smartphone use among kids. That said, most parents know the best way to stay in touch with their children is through using technology and a phone, inarguably, is the best mode of communication that parents can use. Entrepreneurs have understood this dilemma. And there are now phones in the market that are featureless, frills-free and non-smart that both children and senior citizens can use. Easyfone Star, from Gurgaon-based niche gadget-maker SeniorWorld, stands out amongst its peers in India for its sheer usability quotient and unique operations.

At the outset, this is a little phone that children can use to call their parents and other kin, receive calls from people they wish to speak with and even send alerts if and when they are in trouble. The single-SIM phone only needs a 2G connection to function. It has no smart functions inside. You need an old-school big SIM for this and once you’ve inserted it and charged the phone, you need to go to Easyfone’s website on your computer and sync the phone with the cloud. That’s a one-time process. Make sure your phone connection has 2G and SMS facilities working properly before you sync the Easyfone with the website.

The syncing is easy. You can log in to Easyfone’s portal using your email and register your device’s CareTouch ID (which is a unique number) there and click-sync the device with the dashboard. The system will send an SMS to the phone and using the 2G connection, it will establish a link. Once that’s done, you (presumably the parent) can take full control of the phone via your browser.

The Easyfone Star will allow the child to make calls only to preset numbers, which you can set on the website dashboard. The phone does not have the traditional dialpad. The user can receive calls from, again, only preset numbers, which also can be customised online. The phone as such has no internet access. You cannot surf the web on it. There is a dedicated help button for SOS situations. When the child presses it, the parent will get an alert and the GPS will send the current location to the registered user’s email and phone.

The front panel of the Easyfone has four square slots, which act as de facto dialpads. Each slot can be assigned to one phone number; when the user presses the square patch, a call is made to the assigned number. You can paste photos of those whose numbers are synced with each of the slot on it so it becomes easy for the child to identify the numbers before he or she makes the call. You can also add some more numbers to the phone’s contact list (only) via the dashboard on the Easyfone portal. In total, the child will be able to contact only up to a dozen or less people.

The Easyfone allows for discreet listening if you want to do it. This helps parents keep track of the calls if they want. The phone comes in Tangy Green, Sassy Pink, Breezy Blue, Rocket Red, Wonder White variants. There is a dedicated help button that automatically sends a help message and calls up to five family members (whose numbers are fed into the portal) one by one. If the phone goes unanswered, the calls are repeated. The phone also gives out a loud siren to alert people if there is an emergency and the help button is pressed.

The battery stays long enough and the phone comes with a cute little stand for charging, which we didn’t find too amusing. You can charge the phone via the legacy cable anyway. Easyfone’s customer support is quick and cooperative. If you are a parent who wants to be in touch your child as much as possible, this phone is one of the best options you can have in India. The only worry is the body, which is very plastic-y and can break.

Price: ₹3,490

Pros: Easy to use for children, practical features, innovative operations

Cons: Fragile body, needs old-world SMS to sync initially

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