• On TV.com: Julie is HOT (and so is TV in a FLASH)
December 18, 2006 5:30 AM PST

A kid's phone for peace of mind

by Mike Yamamoto
(Credit: Mobile Magazine)

When we saw the "iKids" safety system the other day, we liked the idea but suggested that it come with some other function that might give children more of an incentive to avoid losing it, such as games or music. Japan's Softbank Mobile has come up with a similar idea for an even more obvious device--the phone.

Mobile Magazine says Softbank is marketing its Toshiba 812T clamshell handset specifically for kids, as its pink and blue cases would indicate for the clueless. The phone has an emergency tab at the bottom that, when pulled, sounds an alarm and signals parents with its location.

Don't get us wrong: We by no means advocate any form of technology as a substitute for parental responsibilities. We just think that, if your kids are going to carry a phone anyway (or any other personal device, for that matter), this kind of feature isn't a bad thing to consider.

Recent posts from Crave
ZiiLabs latest processor brings 1080p to Netbooks
How your cell phone can diagnose disease
Apple Store opens in the Louvre: Where next?
OOMouse has more buttons than a shirt
Gigaware remote adds HD radio to the iPhone and iPod Touch
The 404 463: Where we're not that funny, but at least we try
Hands-on: Netflix streaming on the PS3
Sony Eco TV turns off when you leave the room
advertisement

About Crave

The name says it all. Crave is our blog about gorgeous gadgets and other crushworthy stuff. If you would like to contact Crave with a tip or comment, please write to: crave@cnet.com

Add this feed to your online news reader

Crave topics

After 5 years, Firefox faces new challenges

Mozilla helped reshape the Web since releasing Firefox 1.0 five years ago. Now it's got a reawakened Microsoft and Google Chrome to reckon with.

There's a map for that: GPS or smartphone?

Almost every handset comes with mapping software these days, but standalone GPS devices are becoming more affordable than ever.