There was something pretty special about having a home phone as a kid. You knew your best friend’s number by heart, called your grandparents just because you could, and could somehow spend an impressive amount of time talking about absolutely nothing.
Sutherland Shire mums Sophie and Jasmin wanted their own children to experience some of that independence and connection, but without jumping straight to a smartphone.
So they created Ciao Bella Phone, a real handset with the familiar curly cord, redesigned for the way families live now.
A phone that belongs to them
The Ciao Bella Phone simply plugs into the home internet with each phone receiving a number that other Ciao Bella phones can dial. Bella Plus adds a real Australian number, so anyone can call them from any phone, and two months are included with every handset.
From there, children can independently call the people who matter to them. Their grandparents, cousins, school friends or the bestie they only saw an hour ago but apparently urgently need to speak to again.
The big difference is that parents remain in control through the Ciao Bella parent app. Parents approve every contact, can see calls and set quiet hours so the phone stays silent at bedtime.
There is also voicemail, three speed dial contacts, three-way calling and 000 access, anywhere in Australia.
It gives kids the fun and responsibility of having their own phone number, without handing them a smartphone before the family feels ready.
It gets even better when their friends have one
One of the cleverest parts of Ciao Bella is that calls between Ciao Bella phones are always free.
That means friendship groups, cousins, dance friends, soccer teammates or school mates can call each other as often as they like. Three-way calling even lets them get another friend involved in the conversation.
For Sophie and Jasmin, that community is a big part of the idea. They are not simply creating a phone for individual kids. They want to build a network of children actually calling and talking to each other.
And there is something lovely about imagining your child independently ringing Nan for a chat, or calling their friend for the first time without needing to borrow your mobile.
Designed by two Shire mums
Ciao Bella Phone is Australian-owned and was founded by Sophie and Jasmin, two local mums with backgrounds across product, technology, ecommerce and marketing.
The idea grew from a problem they were experiencing in their own families. Their children wanted more independence and ways to communicate, but a smartphone felt like too big a leap.
They remembered growing up with landlines and wondered whether there could be a modern version sitting somewhere between having no phone at all and having the internet in your pocket.
They built Ciao Bella from the hardware up.
The phones now come in nine colourways, including Flamingo, Nigiri and After Dark, with tops and bases that can be mixed and matched. Kids can also personalise them with Ciao Bella Phone stickers.
Every phone includes two months of Bella Plus, which gives the child an Australian phone number and allows calls to and from Australian mobiles and landlines. After that it is $14.99 a month, and nothing renews without the parent being asked first.
Who would your child call first?
For families looking for a step between no phone and a smartphone, Ciao Bella offers something refreshingly simple. A way for kids to make their own calls, practise a little independence and, most importantly, talk to the people they love.
And with Christmas approaching, we suspect a few friendship groups may soon be swapping phone numbers rather than usernames.
Ciao Bella Phone is available now for children aged four through to smartphone-ready. Visit www.ciaobellaphone.com.au to explore the nine colourways and order online.
