Kids' Firefly Phone

Nevyn

http://www.lidl.ie/ie/home.nsf/pages/c.o.20101011.p.Kids_Firefly_Phone

* Very easy to use, designed to help you stay connected
* Stores up to 20 numbers (22 including Mum and Dad).
* Allows guardian/parent the option to limit incoming and outgoing calls
* PIN protection
* 12 ringtones
* Price per item

19.99*

I have been on the look out for these and think they are the best type of kids phone.

planetX

I bought one of these a few years ago, and it has its problems. It's really fiddley when it comes to the settings, and inputting the phone numbers. Also you have to dismantle the whole phone to get to the sim card. I top up from an atm now - but it isn't possible to top up using a code, you just can't input the numbers. There's no way to find out how much credit is left on it. And the Mummy button no longer works on ours.
However, it's been a great in that my child was able to use it when he was only 6 (we needed it due to an incident where he was left alone cos his dad was late for access). Now that he's older I'm really glad that there's no texting on it.
Once you manage to get it set-up, and especially if you're on bill-pay, it's a great phone.

pinc

Bought for a 5yr old, Never used P.M me if you're interested

themadchef

I have 2 unused as well. Ex bought for the kids last Christmas but they were too young and were ringing grandad at 2 am :eek: if they woke up to go to the toilet

Will give them back to them when they get a bit more responsible. No concept of credit or "too late to call".

Kids were only 4 and 5 in fairness. I'd say 7 would be the lower end of the age scale. So they will magically reappear next year.

They were hours setting them up if i recall. Numbers inputted etc. Great idea, but the kid has to have sense to use it.

I saw this too and I was thinking of getting one for my 6 yr old - only for during the summer when we're in a mobile home park so to save us walking around the whole park (usually chasing our tails) to call her in for dinner! Am I mad to get her one at this age? Is she going to want a regular phone more quickly once she has this? I'm really not into kids having mobiles too young.

Deliverance

The firefly is a nice concept but it does not work in reality. It is basically a potential minefield for bad communication. What is the idea of the firefly in the first place?

Providing a panic button to stress overprotective parents even more? Maybe it should have an abduction button as well?

Nevyn

No Deliverance it provides the contactabilty of a mobile for kids with out text messages or picture messages or a camera, be it to tell kids you are going to be late or for them to contact you or the other number in the phone.

Esp when the child is away with the other parent and the parents are not a couple.
That way the child can contact the other parent themselves if upset, with out having to be asked or fearing to be fobbed off. My son has ASD and such a phone means he can ring me if he's upset with out having to talk another adult to letting him use thier phone.

Khannie

Deliverance wrote: »

The firefly is a nice concept but it does not work in reality.

What makes you say that?

Deliverance

Khannie wrote: »

What makes you say that?

Regrettable assumption. Regretted because it obviously has some personal benefits as a piece of tech that seems to have worked for Thaedyal?

I have worked in the area of using tech in a social beneficial way. Particularly I have worked with innovative ideas based on tech and usability based on inspiration as a parent.

I can see how the firefly might work for Thaeydal and her situation. But for general use? It is in my opinion in need of some major tweaks to eliminate the possibility of a child owning a piece of communication tech that could become an annoyant dependancy on tech.

Imagine if you will... every child owning a firefly mobile as a neccessity. Would parents want that, would the child become dependant on it? I.e. they would be constantly calling the parents with every little issue.

Personally it is a start as an idea but it doesn't work for me as a designer for what it is. It has far to many drawbacks. I have actually designed a system which tackles all the issues mentioned above.

My system involves emotion over the technology first whilst making the tech invisible by using everyday objects to 'communicate'.

That is why I said that Khannie, Maybe I should of elaborated a bit;)

Apologies for not doing so, when I see the 'firefly' I see a prototype piece of tech combined with a generic idea put out without enough research and development. To me when I look at it I see a piece of commercial tech rushed out without much testing.

It could have been done better with a view to how it could and should be used. As an idea in my opinion it is weak and far from innovative.

At the end of the day it is a phone with ltd capability. How it could and should be used is ltd. That is my opinion as a media tech designer.

Nevyn

The limited design is on purpose, it means bullying text messages can't be sent or asscii porn or any images and it can't be used to take pictures either. It does how ever provide a means for a child to contact a parent if needed,
it's limitations are to me what make it more useful then a regular mobile phone.

As for it being used to 'pester' parents, as with anything we give to our children there has to be ground rules for the use of it, tech can be advanced as fúck but it is not excuse for sloppy parenting.

metrovelvet

I can see the worries of it becoming another umbilical cord but I think the benefits would outweigh that.

Deliverance

Thaedydal wrote: »

The limited design is on purpose, it means bullying text messages can't be sent or asscii porn or any images and it can't be used to take pictures either. It does how ever provide a means for a child to contact a parent if needed,
it's limitations are to me what make it more useful then a regular mobile phone.

As for it being used to 'pester' parents, as with anything we give to our children there has to be ground rules for the use of it, tech can be advanced as fúck but it is not excuse for sloppy parenting.

To be honest from my background as a tech researcher. I see it as a sloppy use of tech over 'sloppy parenting'. If you look at how the actual tech has been used then you will see it's limitations and potential problems.

In a way that is my job. I am not knocking the firefly, I am questioning and criticising it. The so called ltd design to me is a lack of design and pretty obvious. Personally I would include some more beneficial design features over taking them away. That is just me though, that is what I do.

I don't see many tests and / or results being put up, only folks selling and not using it so far. Like i said it has ltd use. I wouldn't be a fan of promoting it as such. If anything it is not as advanced as '****' as a piece of tech, it is far from it. Good luck to those that choose to pay money for it.

I certainly would not. Just my opinion and all that but hey my kid is doing ok without one. As are my multitude of nephews and nieces.

m'lady

I got my daughter one of these phones when she was 6, for the same reason mentioned in another reply, I'm not with her father and as she goes to his house every weekend I wanted to be able to just call and say 'hi', without having to call his phone which would end in a full scale chat.

I found it quite useful at the time, now she is nearly 10, and obviously has 'upgraded' to a phone that she can text etc. (which I stress I read her texts, and check her call log frequently).

OP- found this on the bargain thread which might be useful to you:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056053738

LordSutch

Thaedydal wrote: »

The limited design is on purpose, it means bullying text messages can't be sent or asscii porn or any images and it can't be used to take pictures either. It does how ever provide a means for a child to contact a parent if needed,
it's limitations are to me what make it more useful then a regular mobile phone.

As for it being used to 'pester' parents, as with anything we give to our children there has to be ground rules for the use of it, tech can be advanced as fúck but it is not excuse for sloppy parenting.

By all accounts its a great device, deliberately simple, controlled by the parents, easily used by infants, simple and effective, giving a certain piece of mind to parents & kids alike. Glad to see the Firefly debate, I mentioned it in another Thread (Pic included) and nobody even noticed

Thumbs up^ to the Firefly.

Shelli2

They are in Lidl next week on the weekly special.

planetX

Deliverance wrote: »

To be honest from my background as a tech researcher. I see it as a sloppy use of tech over 'sloppy parenting'. If you look at how the actual tech has been used then you will see it's limitations and potential problems.

In a way that is my job. I am not knocking the firefly, I am questioning and criticising it. The so called ltd design to me is a lack of design and pretty obvious. Personally I would include some more beneficial design features over taking them away. That is just me though, that is what I do.

I don't see many tests and / or results being put up, only folks selling and not using it so far. Like i said it has ltd use. I wouldn't be a fan of promoting it as such. If anything it is not as advanced as '****' as a piece of tech, it is far from it. Good luck to those that choose to pay money for it.

I certainly would not. Just my opinion and all that but hey my kid is doing ok without one. As are my multitude of nephews and nieces.

I'm one person who has said my son uses it, and it has been very successful for us. The low-tech aspect is exactly why, a 6 year old was able to call when he would not have been able to navigate through a normal phone. Now that he's older I'm really glad he doesn't have text message ability, this keeps the phone as a backup, and not as a recreation. It's only used for important reasons, like being left waiting outside the school - I hope your child is ok without one, I hope he's never in that position.

Khannie

planetX wrote: »

I hope your child is ok without one, I hope he's never in that position.

I think we all did just fine without mobiles.

Nevyn

Again circumstances are not the same for everyone growing up or our children's circumstances are not the same. If parents are parenting apart and there are issues getting in touch with the child or the child getting in touch with either parent such things make life a little easier and less stressful.

metrovelvet

Thaedydal wrote: »

Again circumstances are not the same for everyone growing up or our children's circumstances are not the same. If parents are parenting apart and there are issues getting in touch with the child or the child getting in touch with either parent such things make life a little easier and less stressful.

I think it might make kids of split parents more secure too, knowing they can get in touch with the other parent. Although it can complicate things too in terms of access to the child if the other parent is ringing all the time. I know it would have driven both of my parents to despair if that happenned.

Nevyn

Any bit of tech or any phone can be abused.

Nonoperational

I would have serious reservations about young children using mobile phones from a health point of view. I know nothing is proven but exposure to radiation at such a young age isn't something I'd be in favour of.

Raiser

Deliverance wrote: »

Regrettable assumption. Regretted because it obviously has some personal benefits as a piece of tech that seems to have worked for Thaedyal?

I have worked in the area of using tech in a social beneficial way. Particularly I have worked with innovative ideas based on tech and usability based on inspiration as a parent.

I can see how the firefly might work for Thaeydal and her situation. But for general use? It is in my opinion in need of some major tweaks to eliminate the possibility of a child owning a piece of communication tech that could become an annoyant dependancy on tech.

Imagine if you will... every child owning a firefly mobile as a neccessity. Would parents want that, would the child become dependant on it? I.e. they would be constantly calling the parents with every little issue.

Personally it is a start as an idea but it doesn't work for me as a designer for what it is. It has far to many drawbacks. I have actually designed a system which tackles all the issues mentioned above.

My system involves emotion over the technology first whilst making the tech invisible by using everyday objects to 'communicate'.

That is why I said that Khannie, Maybe I should of elaborated a bit;)

Apologies for not doing so, when I see the 'firefly' I see a prototype piece of tech combined with a generic idea put out without enough research and development. To me when I look at it I see a piece of commercial tech rushed out without much testing.

It could have been done better with a view to how it could and should be used. As an idea in my opinion it is weak and far from innovative.

At the end of the day it is a phone with ltd capability. How it could and should be used is ltd. That is my opinion as a media tech designer.

Did you even read that before you posted it? I really wonder how you generated the above from he current subject matter, but it reminds me of the Folks in Universities who clock up a decade of academic self congratulation and then forget what the real World is actually about.

The Firefly is in Lidl today for €20 Euro incl €5 credit and provides a means for a young child to hit a very obviously labelled button and get straight through to Mam or Dad - I see a lot of very obvious benefits and even if it wasn't a life-saver it could be invaluable in certain situations if a Child was ever stuck anywhere due to unforeseen circumstances etc.

Fittle

I've just read this on the 02 website...

http://www.o2online.ie/wps/wcm/connect/O2/Home/Shop/Phones/Firefly+for+kids/

I was just about to buy one of these phones today but it says you have to insert the sim into an 02 phone to activate it first....I'm not with 02, which means I'd have to change networks or find someone with an 02 phone for ten minutes...

Just something to keep in mind.

I think I'll just get the basic 29.99 nokia phone that's doing the rounds in dunnes at the moment. I had an incident yesterday where I couldn't find my son (8) for 5 minutes yesterday (he was in a neighbours house, but is usually playing on the road) but my heart was racing and I'd decided to get him a phone today.....

loyatemu

Deleted User wrote: »

I saw this too and I was thinking of getting one for my 6 yr old - only for during the summer when we're in a mobile home park so to save us walking around the whole park (usually chasing our tails) to call her in for dinner! Am I mad to get her one at this age? Is she going to want a regular phone more quickly once she has this? I'm really not into kids having mobiles too young.

we got cheapo walkie-talkies for this purpose when we were camping during the summer - a much better idea as they are free to use.

Deliverance

Khannie wrote: »

I think we all did just fine without mobiles.

Spot on Khannie. Ya canny fecker ya.

Deliverance

Raiser wrote: »

Did you even read that before you posted it? I really wonder how you generated the above from he current subject matter, but it reminds me of the Folks in Universities who clock up a decade of academic self congratulation and then forget what the real World is actually about.

The Firefly is in Lidl today for €20 Euro incl €5 credit and provides a means for a young child to hit a very obviously labelled button and get straight through to Mam or Dad - I see a lot of very obvious benefits and even if it wasn't a life-saver it could be invaluable in certain situations if a Child was ever stuck anywhere due to unforeseen circumstances etc.

Well I wrote it so I guess I more than read it for a start. I 'generated' it as an opinion based on being an 'expert' on media design. I guess I am considered to be an expert in this area after delving passionately into it for 4yrs. Plus I have developed tech on a daily basis to improve the tech in a beneficial way.

I appreciate critisism once it is beneficial to the argument.

It is something that can be built on via experience. I think the firefly as I mentioned is a good concept. One that I as a parent and researcher can build upon to improve the existing interesting concept. I look at it and see ways to improve this social tech.

However I don't appreciate being called an acedemic with no real life experience. I am a mature student / graduate with real life experience. if anything I imagine that you have issues with academia. that is your problem not mine.

Deliverance

loyatemu wrote: »

we got cheapo walkie-talkies for this purpose when we were camping during the summer - a much better idea as they are free to use.

I have been thinking about the use of this tech myself. Like you said it is free and low tech. Radar tech is old as the hills.. I'm thinking of incorporating it into new tech in some way convert radio wave stuff into digital readings that can be manipulated.

Not sure how at the moment.

davephelan

I just bought two of these in Lidl. Not for kids but thought they might be good for my Dad (90) and Aunt (84). The simple button one call is what attracted me. However on arrival home I put one in to charge after putting the €5 sim card in. It did not do as it said on the box!!! the book button in the centre stayed glowing yellow and a constant blue light below. The screen was dead. I left it over night hoping but next morning it was the same. I then opened the other one ....but exactly the same has happened.
Am I missing something? I thought to look for a packing/ intransit tape over the battery or something ...but nothing. Been back to the store but no one else has reported trouble????
Any help
Thanks
Dave

Moonbeam

not being smart but is it turned on?

davephelan

Moonbeam wrote: »

not being smart but is it turned on?

I wish that was it:):) I went back to LIdl yesterday to see if any other customers were affected but, no, none had been returned.
I just cannot figure it out. I still cannot accept that two phones just out of the box would not charge. I did check the manual about turning it on and re set the phones as well.
This is doing my head in
Btw I teach digital media in school, so am not totally unfamiliar with technology:)

Sorry davephelan, I know I'm probably insulting you by asking but is the plug socket that you're using working?

davephelan

Deleted User wrote: »

Sorry davephelan, I know I'm probably insulting you by asking but is the plug socket that you're using working?

Yes the plug socket was working. As I said in the first post
"However on arrival home I put one in to charge after putting the €5 sim card in. It did not do as it said on the box!!! the book button in the centre stayed glowing yellow and a constant blue light below. The screen was dead. I left it over night hoping but next morning it was the same. I then opened the other one ....but exactly the same has happened. "

So the electricity was on and working, but sadly I still cannot get anything going. I got an email from Firefly in the USA saying perhaps the O2 sim card (that came in the box with the €5 credit) might be the problem. As far as I can see there is only one way to put the card in and that is as per the diagram in the instructions. I guess now my only option is to get a refund from Lidl. They are brilliant always about returns, I will have to say.
Thanks
Dave

Moonbeam

They have the phones again -

http://www.lidl.ie/ie/home.nsf/pages/c.o.20101118.p.Kids_Firefly_Phone

Dave for older people you can get a really basic nokia phone
http://shop.tescomobile.ie/index.aspx?mobile=true
25 euro there for a very basic phone.

davephelan

Thanks for that, but you know that a really basic phone is not just the price. Its the fact that my Dads fingers are too "fiddley" for the tiny numbers. All I wanted was a simple phone....a brick! big with large numbers. I thought that this phone would do the job as he could call up to 20 people and a quick button for me and one other.
I guess the problem with the advance in technology is that phones have to do all...they have far too many features that 90% of people do not use.
I think I will go and get a johns phone http://www.johnsphones.com/store/johns-phone-white/item24
The problem is that they are out of stock at the moment and are about €70.
The fireflys are flying back to Lidl tomorrow for a cash refund

recedite

Fittle wrote: »

I've just read this on the 02 website...

http://www.o2online.ie/wps/wcm/connect/O2/Home/Shop/Phones/Firefly+for+kids/

I was just about to buy one of these phones today but it says you have to insert the sim into an 02 phone to activate it first....I'm not with 02, which means I'd have to change networks or find someone with an 02 phone for ten minutes...

Just something to keep in mind.

I think I'll just get the basic 29.99 nokia phone that's doing the rounds in dunnes at the moment. I had an incident yesterday where I couldn't find my son (8) for 5 minutes yesterday (he was in a neighbours house, but is usually playing on the road) but my heart was racing and I'd decided to get him a phone today.....

davephelan wrote: »

I just bought two of these in Lidl.However on arrival home I put one in to charge after putting the €5 sim card in. It did not do as it said on the box!!! the book button in the centre stayed glowing yellow and a constant blue light below. The screen was dead. I left it over night hoping but next morning it was the same. I then opened the other one ....but exactly the same has happened.
Am I missing something? I thought to look for a packing/ intransit tape over the battery or something ...but nothing. Been back to the store but no one else has reported trouble????
Any help
Thanks
Dave

davephelan wrote: »

The fireflys are flying back to Lidl tomorrow for a cash refund

Maybe too late for Dave now, but it seems the question was already answered above; I am highlighting it in bold in case anyone else ends up here looking for answers. Mine has the same symptoms (I had it in the box for the last two weeks; only opening it up now).
Lidl really should have put a notice up at the time explaining the procedure to activate the sim card. :mad:
Still, I see from the 02 link above that Lidl were selling for less than half price, so I won't complain too much.:)

EileenG

I bought one of these for my youngest, and she kept losing or forgetting it. The trouble is, it's boring and she has no reason to carry it. Children don't want phones so their parents can keep track of them, they want them for cool stuff.

I got her one with a bunch of little games on it (Tetris and Same Colour), and she carries it everywhere. She's only got about six tracks on it, but it's enough to keep her happy.

LegacyUser

Hi,Santa brought one of these Firefly phones to my daughter for xmas and we cannot get it going.We have activated the SIM card in my husbands phone and that is working fine.We have been charging the Firefly phone for hours and still can't get it to turn on.It says on the instructions to charge it up for two hours and the battery should be powered up.We have charged it up for about eight hours and still no joy.Did anybody actually get these phones working??????

recedite

sarnia wrote: »

Hi,Santa brought one of these Firefly phones to my daughter for xmas and we cannot get it going.We have activated the SIM card in my husbands phone and that is working fine.We have been charging the Firefly phone for hours and still can't get it to turn on.It says on the instructions to charge it up for two hours and the battery should be powered up.We have charged it up for about eight hours and still no joy.Did anybody actually get these phones working??????

Same here; mine went back to Lidl in the end

LegacyUser

Hi again,
I returned the phone to Lidl where l had no problem getting a refund.The lady l dealt with said that they had a lot of the phones returned and there must have been a fault with them.

Moonbeam

davephelan wrote: »

Thanks for that, but you know that a really basic phone is not just the price. Its the fact that my Dads fingers are too "fiddley" for the tiny numbers. All I wanted was a simple phone....a brick! big with large numbers. I thought that this phone would do the job as he could call up to 20 people and a quick button for me and one other.
I guess the problem with the advance in technology is that phones have to do all...they have far too many features that 90% of people do not use.
I think I will go and get a johns phone http://www.johnsphones.com/store/johns-phone-white/item24
The problem is that they are out of stock at the moment and are about €70.
The fireflys are flying back to Lidl tomorrow for a cash refund

http://www.o2online.ie/o2/shop/phones/detail.php?pid=110 is a fantastic phone for the older or hard of hearing or sight person.
W got one for a family member that is really bad with technology and has bad hearing and it is going down a treat.