Republic Wireless has announced two alternative gadgets for parents to keep track of their children without the use of smartphones.
The first device, called Relay, combines the power of a phone and the functionality of a walkie-talkie. It is a screen-less and water-resistant child-friendly speaker with the added function of GPS, so that parents could locate their children wherever they go.
The main idea of the device is to allow children to "enjoy the world without screens" but not completely separate them from the guidance of their parents.
To speak with the other party, the user only needs to push the button in the middle and hold the device to the face as they talk. If the parent is using a smartphone to connect, the message will be received in the form of SMS. The adult can also text back their reply, which will be then read out by the speaker.
The gadget also has similar features with a smartphone like Google Assistant, music, and games. It can be connected through WiFi and 4G LTE and has companion applications for Android and iOS devices.
As for hardware, the Relay sports a 3.5-mm headphone jack, NFC, an accelerometer, haptics, and even a LED notification ring. No need to constantly worry about charging as its battery lasts for several days.
The Relay is set to arrive in early 2018. It will be sold in pairs for $149 and in threes for $199, with an addition of $6.99 per month for service per device.
The second Republic Wireless announcement, Anywhere HQ, is a voice-activated smart speakerphone that the user could sync to their mobile number to take and make calls. The speaker serves as an extension of the Republic Anywhere service, which allows users to text or call from Republic's iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows apps.
The portable device connects with 4G LTE and can dial 911, a feature that not all WiFi phones has. No more distraction from robot callers and scammers as it could screen them out. Anywhere HQ also lasts several days on one charge.
As of press time, there is no concrete release date for the device.
