I just discovered Firefly Mobile, they provide mobile phones and service for children, as I mentioned previously how children love the iPhone I think Firefly is on to something by selling phones to younger children. Firefly’s glowPhone is particularly interesting as it is targeted to children as young as 5 years old. The phone includes speed dial buttons for Mom, Dad and emergency, as well as the ability to restrict incoming and outgoing calls to only those numbers in the address book. While I’m not entirely clear why a child in kindergarden needs a mobile phone, I do understand that this is a glimpse into the future.

While I remain firmly unconvinced that my preschooler needs a mobile phone, I am however convinced that it is a matter of time before everyone—yes, even my daughter—will carry a personal digital device with them at all times. The device will in many ways resemble a mobile phone, but yet it will be so much more that we’ll have another name for it. For children the device will in addition to allowing phone calls will have mobile internet enabled games, a social video camera for sharing movies with friends, and capabilities not yet invented. Firefly is at the forefront of this sea of change, and trust me that the change is imminent because the digital natives—those born and comfortable with computers and technology, are starting to have children of their own. So, the next generation of parents will be actively seeking out digital experiences for their children.