Best Android wifi calling option for kids

incogtino@lemmy.zip to Android@lemmy.ml – 22 points –

I want to set up a 'home phone' network for the kids in a couple of different households. The kids are too young to have their own phones, but are currently dependent on parents to contact each other in the way we did when we were kids

My idea at the moment is to set up an old Android phone on the wifi in each house with messenger or similar, then uninstall all other internet apps and lock down the play store

Does this sound like the best option? If there a better tool that is still cheap/free and will be relatively safe for the kids to use unattended?

14

You are viewing a single comment

Signal can do messaging and calling over wifi and can be set up with just a username.

It still requires a functioning phone #

Ah dang, I forgot it was still needed during signup.

Thanks, if none of the parents are already using Signal I could get them to verify their own phone numbers - but that's me assuming one-off SMS verification, not if you have to keep the SIM in the phone

All you need is SMS verification.

Doesn't even have to be on the same phone.