Cingular and Verizon Wireless drop kid phones

Verizon Wireless has discontinued sales of its kid-focused Migo phone, by LG Electronics Co. Ltd., while Cingular has dropped its youth-targeted Firefly device at its retail stores, as the nation’s top two carriers apparently continue to figure out the potentially lucrative market for children’s handsets.
In Verizon Wireless’ case, parents prefer the LG 3450L flip phone to LG’s Migo, according to spokesperson Brenda Raney. Text messaging, not supported by the Migo, is available on the 3450L and is a popular service for kids, she said. The LG 3450L also does not support Verizon Wireless’ Get It Now application-download service, but it does run the carrier’s Chaperone service, which allows parents to track the location of their children.
As for Cingular, the carrier said it removed the Firefly from its retail stores, but is still selling the device on its Web site. The device is available for free with a service contract on the site.
Similar to the Migo, the Firefly does not offer a standard 10-digit keypad. Instead, the phone features “mom” and “dad” calling buttons, and parents can control which numbers the phone can dial to and receive calls from.
Chicago-based Firefly Mobile Inc., the company that designed and sells the Firefly phone, may well feel the pinch of Cingular’s move. It continues to sell the handset for $80 and $90 on the Firefly Web site and through retailers such as Kmart, Target and Toys R Us.
The vast majority of handsets are sold through carrier retail outlets, and Cingular is the nation’s largest carrier.
“Firefly Mobile is winding down a successful distribution relationship with Cingular,” said Jeff Jones, Firefly’s marketing director. “As the success of the Firefly phone has grown significantly we have evolved our distribution strategy focusing primarily on mass market channels. We enjoy distribution at Wal-Mart, Target, Toys R Us, Kmart as well as many other major U.S. retailers. We also are in discussions with several carriers regarding adding distribution for the Firefly phone. As we successfully complete our discussions we will make announcements.”
That Cingular and Verizon Wireless are toying with their kid-phone strategies is notable since several mobile virtual network operators are currently targeting the kid space. Indeed, tween-focused MVNO kajeet recently signed a deal with kid TV channel Nickelodeon. So far, most such kid-focused MVNOs offer only standard cellphones, not phones designed for kids like the Migo and Firefly.
In other handset news, Cingular last week dropped the price on three smartphones, including the carrier-branded (HTC Corp.-made) 8125 to $100 (from $200), the Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. BlackJack to $150 (from $200) and the Nokia Corp. E62 to $30 (from $70).
Carriers routinely deflect questions on handset pricing. Cingular may well be clearing inventory of popular smartphones in anticipation of Apple Inc.’s iPhone, due to appear on shelves in June.