FireFly?

[TinkerPixxie]

Has anyone got the FireFly phone for thier kids? I picked it up yesterday for my dd 8, yes I know thats waaaaay to unessesary for an 8yr old. Dont know what I was thinking. Im an impulse shopper and found it to be so cute. Not like shes ever away from me either to use it.

So I was wondering if anyone has this or picked it up. Target had it on sale for 88.88. How it works, if it falls is it pretty resistant?

For those of you have havent seen it it is programed by the parents with a pin code, up to 20 numbers can be stored, and those are the numbers that can call into the phone too I believe. Theres a mom and dad button so the child can just push the one button to reach you instead of trying to scroll through numbers or menus.

I like the idea that if she does need me say at cheerleading, gymnastics or wherever Im only a button away.

Any input on the product would be great

Tink~

 

[Lorikr65]

I don't have it but did notice it on sale at Target. My DD11 wants a cell phone. Is it a phone that you buy the cards for or do you have to sign it up with a cell company??

 

[KelNottAt]

I came across it at Target yesterday. Before I saw it, I thought it required a Cingular contract. But I don't think that's right any more. It looks like to you just buy minutes as you need them.

My DD11 is BEGGING for this phone. (Well actually, she's begging for a "real" cell phone, but has lowered her request to this.)

Upon seeing it and realizing a contract isn't necessary, I almost gave in and got her one for Christmas. But, on second thought, it just seemed a little too "babyish" for her. I mentioned this to her, but she defended it. She's gonna ask her friends what they think, you know "expert witnesses" for her case.

I doubt we'll actually go through with a Firefly. I think we could add her to our plan (and get a free "real" cell) for a cost equivalent to the Firefly. But that still ain't happening; DS13 would get a cell phone before her...He actually goes places by himself.

 

[wdwstar]

it is a pay as you go phone, easy activation, simply call from a regular phone to activate the firefly phone, comes with 30 mins. refill cards can be bought at target $10-40mins. $25-100 mins. $50 -200 mins. here is something interesting.... minutes expire in 90 days once you activate the refill card. to make sure you dont lose unused mins or your phone number, refill with more firefly mins every 90 days.

otherwise pay as you go, no contracts or overage charges. Has a mom and dad button and 911. you can program 20 phone #s for incoming and out going, caller id and in coming phone numbers that are not program will not go thru.
fireflymobile.com
please check the coverage for your area.

Dh & i looked at these and i took a brochure home to read, our target did not have them on sale. we have not decided to buy it yet.

I like the idea its a one button push to reach us and only program phone numbers will be able to go thru, I like it for when i drop DD off at ballet or gymnastics or girl scouts and if anything happened and i am running late or got tied up she would be able to reach me. Or she goes over to a friends and i like her to call me then she wont have to bother the parent.

But as far as keeping the mins up dated every 90 days and for me i would buy the 100mins for a better deal but what if DD doesnt use all those mins. in 90 days. The coverage is fine for were we live and travel to, but there are some , more then a quarter of states it will not work .

I am not sure at this point.

 

[disneyfanz04]

DD(9) has been begging for a cell phone too...so, I told her when she is 13 she could have a cell phone. When I saw the firefly, I decided I would get her one of those, and see how responsible she is with it to decide weather she can handle a real cell phone. I like the idea of me being a button away, and I like being able to program what numbers go in and out of the phone, this way she can't call all her friends, and use all her minutes, and they can't use up her minutes by calling her. The ONLY option I wish it had is free Firefly to Firefly calling. That would be cool, this way she could talk to the friends that had it. Going Wednesday to pick one up @ Target, my DMIL got her a $25.00 phone card, and my DGrandMIL got her the wrist pouch, and the pink shell covering.

 

[TinkerPixxie]

You buy the cards, it comes with 30 dollars to start you off with. I figure if it goes over well Ill buy cards when we need them and if not then I havent obligated myself to morethan the original 88.88.
Tink

 

[TinkerPixxie]

My DD11 is BEGGING for this phone. (Well actually, she's begging for a "real" cell phone, but has lowered her request to this.)

We started my now 17 yr old dd with a virgin mobile. There were several times over the past 4 years shes had it that she needed it taken away from her for various teenager reasons Now we have handed it down to my 12 yr old ds. It works good for several reasons, we arent paying a monthly bill so if it needs to be taken away the minutes are there for when they get it back. Virgin only requires you to put a minimum of 20.00 every 90 days. Second I got the second virgin phone for less than i paid for the firefly , also it got her in the habbit of only making nessesary calls knowing she only had so much money on it. Now that she is on our contracted Verizon plan shes more concious of the time issue.
Plus Virgin mobile website allows you to go on in real time and see who, and when your kids are calling or recieving calls, the text messages are there also.
I dont think there is anything wrong with knowing your kids friends phone numbers and knowing who they are talking to, i felt informed.
Good luck in choosing.

 

[ceecee]

We saw a TracFone for $17.99, a 1 year card is $100.00 with 200 minutes (plus you can get extra minutes). You can program their phonebook and it would be a lot cheaper than the Firefly. I just give DD my phone (when I know I'll be home). All of her activities have a set time except for her choir and sometimes it's 2 hrs or 1 depending on how they do...so she can call me at home with my cell.

 

[Kerlynne]

Just for a heads up, http://onlinestorez.cingular.com/ce...s/cell-phones.jsp?v=1&q_deviceId=cdsku9870088 Cingular is selling that phone for 49.99(after rebate)!

 

[swilshire]

I'm sorry I even opened this thread, because it's making me feel SOOOO old! I was 13 before we even got a phone in the house. I had a cell phone for years with zero free minutes because I only used it in emergencies and that was cheaper than any of the service plans.

Now we're up to a family plan with 850 minutes and unlimited weekends, but only because DD moved away to college and doesn't have a landline at all. DS17 is dying to have his own phone, but since he doesn't drive much alone, we haven't added one for him. As soon as he starts driving more, we will. I sometimes use as much as 40 or 50 minutes a month on my phone, but usually for the free long distance.

I don't mean to offend, but why in the world does an 8yo or 11yo need a cell phone? I could see an occassional call to let you know they're done at a sports practice or something, but at that age, wouldn't you normally be with them unless they're in a school group?

And since we're talking cell phones, who in the World are all those people talking to while they're driving around?

Sheila

 

[TinkerPixxie]

I don't mean to offend, but why in the world does an 8yo or 11yo need a cell phone? I could see an occassional call to let you know they're done at a sports practice or something, but at that age, wouldn't you normally be with them unless they're in a school group?

I dont think "need" is the correct word, it is definatly more of a niceity <~~ sure im spelling that wrong} She doesnt need one, but it is nice to know that while at a practice or friends house she can call me. I can painfully remember being at a new persons house when I was a kid and feeling very uncomfortable at some, I wouldnt have asked to use a phone and tell my parent openly in front of another parent that I felt this way, sure wish I had the one button option back then.

But to be perfectly honest, I guess its more because she wants one, and she wants to feel "big", and Im going to enjoy it to the fullest when her eyes light up Christmas morning. Petty? Maybe. Believe me when I say that with 5 children my kids dont get spoiled much if at all, this is a first and im glad to have the affordability to do it. Or I could just spend the 88.88 on another giant doll that will sit in the corner five days later untouched.

Tink

 

[jetsetter90]

Kerlynne Just for a heads up, http://onlinestorez.cingular.com/ce...Id=cdsku9870088 Cingular is selling that phone for 49.99(after rebate)!

The price for the phone is great but then Cingular gets you with their pay as you go plan. The cheapest they offer is 9.99 a month for a two year contract. So I think Target is the best offer.

Pricing and Availability

The Firefly phone and accessories are available now through participating Cingular retail locations or via http://www.cingular.com/The Firefly is $49.99, after a $25 mail-in rebate and with a two-year contract. The Firefly phone is available on Cingular's $9.99 FamilyTalk® plan.

 

[challada]

Frankly, I want these for BOTH of my kids who are only 5 and 10 as our scheduling means that one or the other is usually someplace or another (ie sports for each, scouts for each, music lessons for each, etc, etc) and I would like them to be able to reach ME in an instant. The only reason I have not bought them is that I do not want them to become just fun ways to call their friends and I fear them getting lost.

If anyone remembers the original articles about these when they came out, Disney will be releasing their own version of these next year. I believe they will also be "kid friendly" and pay as you go from what I remember. Since it will be from Disney, I will most likely be buying those instead of the Fireflies.

 

[suzannews]

I saw these in the Target ad this week and just saw them in person at Target today. I like the "Mom" and "Dad" direct button and only the 20 preprogrammed numbers can get through but the phone didn't seem like it would stay in one piece after being tossed around by DD. We are looking at a phone for her for next school year when she starts Jr High and no one is waiting at the bus stop for her everyday.

 

[Mskanga]

I got my 12 year old a verizon phone this september and let me tell you , it has saved my day in more than one ocassion. Twice she got dropped off in the wrong bus stop with the school bus because the sub driver did not know where they were going , and three more times they were very late coming back from a game and I didn't have to wait 2 hours in the school parking lot for them tp get there.
Now she has it with her everytime she goes out , it's a protection issue for me and well worth the money.

 

[disneychrista]

I got my DD a firefly phone through bzzagent.com and the darn thing doesn't even work in our area. Everything including the sign up and the firefly website say it should.

 

[jsksjs]

Do you just pay a one time activation fee (how Much)? And, do you have to pay a monthly Fee? I know that you buy time on prepaid cards, correct?

 

[disneyfanz04]

Do you just pay a one time activation fee (how Much)? And, do you have to pay a monthly Fee? I know that you buy time on prepaid cards, correct?

I do not think there is an activation fee, you just pay for your minutes with the prepaid cards. There is not a monthly fee either. (someone can correct me if I am wrong.)

 

[Mom2Ashli]

The firefly web-site makes it sound like you lose your minutes at the end of 90 days.

From the web-site - Firefly Minutes have a 90 day expiration.

Can anyone tell me if that is correct or if it is like the Virgin Mobile pay as you go. As long as you top up the unused money stays in your account.