At my neighborhood CVS, for a mere $19.99 you can buy two text messengers designed for kids ages 6 and over. The messengers include some smart phone capabilities: a data organizer that holds e-mail addresses, phone numbers, postal addresses, and memos; a calculator; an alarm clock; and the capability to be password-locked. These devices offer unlimited messaging for the monthly flat rate of zero.
Nurturing new customers is a sensible business strategy. But producing this product probably wouldn’t be a wise move for phone companies. In fact, the product is offered under the brand Discovery Kids. Discovery Communications is a media content and entertainment company.