Safe And Retro: Is It Time To Revive The Landline For Kids?

From retro fun to safer conversations, old-school home phones are helping families rethink how children connect with friends.

Credit: Tin Can

As of last year, almost 80 percent of households in America did not have a landline. Now, a startup called Tin Can is endeavouring to revive the landline with its first batch of corded devices that harken back to a simpler time of communication.

The recent rise of dumb phones shows society pushing back against the distractions and dangers of the always-connected smartphone. With analog devices seemingly becoming cool again, maybe it's time for landlines to make a comeback?

Whilst some parents are dusting off old landlines, so kids can chat with friends without handing them a smartphone, Tin Can wants to be the upgraded version, according to Fast Company. The phones retail for $75, with a bright, retro 1980s design… that also resembles a tin can, of course.

They operate on “Voice over Internet Protocol” (VoIP) rather than a traditional landline and plug directly into a router or Ethernet port. The company also plans to roll out a WiFi version in the future. Each device is assigned a unique five-digit code instead of a phone number. Usage is free, although a planned upgrade that allows dialing real phone numbers will cost $10/month.

And here’s a cool feature for parents: they can toggle on and off when the Tin Can is available to use via an app. Society still has a long way to go before twirling phone cords while chatting counts as a trend again, but you never know…