While the onset of the 21st century has brought the integration of technological marvels into day-to-day society, the adverse effects of this digital domination have already trickled down into our very own children. Now, kids who need to be kept busy are plopped down in front of a screen or handed a tablet to satisfy their attention, leading to their familiarization with this tech and making them feel ‘ready’ at an increasingly earlier age to receive their first cellphone. Still, as smartphones are inherently built for adult use, more and more parents are concerned that giving their kids a cell phone will leave them vulnerable and exposed to the dangers of the far-reaching corners of the internet. These fears are for good reason, with addicting social media apps such as Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok dominating today’s youth’s social stage, promoting content that is not suitable for young developing minds. Enter Gabb Wireless, entrepreneur and founder Stephen Dalby’s answer to the conundrum that is children’s cellular devices, establishing a safe and secure phone network that puts parents’ minds at ease and child’s safety first.
Dalby initially founded Gabb Wireless back in 2018, the same year the patriarch had trouble finding an adequate solution to his 12-year-old son’s own personal need for a cellphone. Appalled at the fact the only phones on the market were, on one hand, flip phones, and on the other, thousand dollar smartphones, Dalby became intent on finding a solution to this issue he knew he wasn’t the only one facing. Shortly thereafter, Dalby launched Gabb Wireless, funded on the back of his own personal savings, angel investors and crowdfunding, changing the landscape of the cellphone market for children forever.
“It’s really one of the most complicated purchases that a parent makes,” said Dalby. “You want to be able to communicate with your child, but there are so many risks and dangers today just with the overconsumption of technology.”
With Gabb Wireless, parents have the option to select a purportedly unhackable phone for their child with all the necessary technological capabilities to serve a minor, sans access to adult-oriented content and minus the addicting applications that can lead to unnecessarily spent screen time. Including a camera, alarm, calculator, radio, text and talk, Gabb Wireless' fairly priced phones and subsequent network plans provide affordable and attainable support for parents, who can now get in touch with their children easily and without worry.
The Gabb Watch was then introduced in June of 2021, highlighting the “tech in steps'' mantra. The watch has the ability to call or text ten preset numbers, can track steps, and features a fun pet caring game where coins are earned by being active. These features incentivise kids to live a healthy, active lifestyle while still being able to safely communicate. As a child grows and develops, children can then receive the internet-free phone to further communication with parents and friends.
Both the phone and watch are kidsmart, including GPS and an accompanying parent application that’s easily tracked if the device gets lost, or if a parent wants to make sure the youngsters are exactly where they’re supposed to be. These features are made possible through the MyGabb app, available for download for free on both iOS and Android. Through the app, parents are able to call, text, and see their kid’s device’s location and device battery percentage. In case the device gets lost, parents are also able to make the device play a sound, helping find the lost device. These features reiterate the point these devices are purposefully designed with kids and family in mind.
As owning a cell phone becomes increasingly more common among youngsters, Stephen Dalby’s Gabb Wireless goes where no phone network has gone before, making communicating among families safer and more secure than ever.
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