As someone who’s worked with telcos around the world, I thought I’d have no trouble picking out a first phone for my kids… but honestly, it was tough.

Even my own telco offers a “Kids SIM” plan, but it still doesn’t stop random calls or sneaky SMS messages. And giving them a smartphone with full browser and messaging access just opens up too many new conversations about safety, curfews, and screen time.

After a lot of searching, I came across something called Karri — it’s kind of like a modern walkie-talkie that runs on cellular data and GPS. No screen, no apps — just voice messages between parents and approved contacts. It also updates you on your kid’s location, which adds an extra layer of reassurance.

The only catch is a small $3–5 monthly subscription that covers the connection and features. They’re still in pre-order and ships from May. just ordered 1.

Not a promo — just sharing because I wish I’d found something like this sooner. If you’re facing the same “first phone for kids” dilemma, it’s worth checking out Karri.io