Bark Technologies is known for its parental control app for children. The app is currently available in the U.S., South Africa and Australia.
Now, Bark has launched its own phone. And it has struck a multi-year mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) agreement with T-Mobile to use its nationwide network for the Bark Phone.
The phone is a Samsung A13 equipped for unlimited talk and text. Importantly, it comes with the Bark app built in. Bark’s monitoring tool scans childrens’ texts, emails, social media and apps for digital dangers and sends alerts to their parents. The phone includes GPS-powered location tracking, call blocking and contact management. Its native controls also make it hard for kids to tamper with protective settings.
Bark Phone plans start at $49 per month with no contract required.
Phones for child safety
According to Bark’s website its app has detected 629,000 self-harm situations and 2.6 million severe bullying situations. Using artificial intelligence, Bark also alerts families about possible online predation.
Families also get the ability to create custom screen time schedules, block websites and apps, and receive location alerts.
Recon Analytics analyst Roger Entner has collected data that suggests the pool of potential wireless subscribers has risen because more young children are being given smartphones by their parents in the aftermath of the mass school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
Of course, many parents are concerned about giving their young children a phone with full access to the internet and social media.
According to CrunchBase, Bark Technologies, based in Atlanta, has raised $67 million in five funding rounds.