On March 9th, Chicago-based Firefly Mobile announced what it calls the first mobile phone intended for kids (and their parents), ages eight to twelve. We offer the site not as a product endorsement, but rather as an example of the choices made by a company taking an innovative and pioneering product to market. Is the "tween" segment a classic Clayton Christensen underserved market begging for a solution, or a product in search of a market?
The ninety-nine dollar phone, which includes thirty minutes of Firefly Mobile airtime, is designed for tiny hands, lights up like a firefly when in use, allows parents to preset twenty-two phone numbers, and provides speed dial to said parents. According to Firefly, parents like the product because it keeps them in touch with their young ones, and kids like it because it's cool. The phone can be accessorized with different color shells, backpack clip, or hands-free headset, among other items.
On the business side, Firefly has made partnerships with Target, SunCom, Cincinnati Bell, and Brightstar. It also brought in CEO Robin Abrams, who comes with a pedigree: She was president and CEO of Palm Computing, president and CEO of VeriFone, and held several executive positions at Apple.
Stay tuned.