Filip Technologies Transforms Family Communications and the Smartwatch Market with Next Generation Wearable Phone and Locator for Kids, FiLIP 2

FiLIP 2 Incorporates New Design Elements Based on Real-World Testing That Help the Company Maintain Its Leadership Position in the Stand-Alone Wearable Device Market

FiLIP 2 (Photo: Business Wire)

(Booth #4423)
CTIA 2014

LAS VEGAS--()--Children today have more activities than ever before and are asking for mobile phones at a younger age. While parents want to keep in touch, they are concerned about cyber-bullying, inappropriate texting and children losing their phone. Filip Technologies™ led the way in taking on these issues when they introduced FiLIP, the first wearable phone and locator for kids in 2013.

Today, Filip Technologies introduces FiLIP 2, the next generation of its award-winning wearable phone. FiLIP 2 offers the same features parents and kids loved in the first generation FiLIP with improved durability and a redesigned, sizable and closeable wristband that is available in new colors. The company is also unveiling a new app that makes it even easier for families to stay connected and parents to know where their children are, forever changing the way families keep in touch.

“When I lost my son in a shopping mall several years ago, the idea for this product was born,” said Sten Kirkbak, founder of Filip Technologies. “Yet, after receiving so many stories from our customers of how they use FiLIP daily to stay connected with their families, I realized that the communications need is much greater than just being able to locate your child in a mall. We’ve seen innovation in mobile technology change the way adults communicate with each other and we’re seeing the same shift happen with children and wearable devices.”

With just a press of a button, FiLIP 2 brings children and family members together. Through its unique combination of phone and location technologies in a wearable form factor, FiLIP 2 is ideally suited to meet the communications needs of modern families. According to an online survey conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of Filip Technologies, 85 percent of parents with children ages 6-12 in their household do not believe it is appropriate to buy their child a smartphone until they are at least 11 years old. Connected to AT&T’s network, FiLIP 2 offers only the features that parents want without unnecessary elements, like internet access.

“We are very proud that FiLIP was the first kids' watch on the market capable of making and receiving calls independent of a smartphone,” said Jonathan Peachey, CEO of Filip Technologies. “We have an amazing, passionate customer base of parents and kids who shared a lot of great ideas on how we can improve FiLIP. We took their suggestions to heart and have incorporated many of them into FiLIP 2.”

Introducing FiLIP 2: Connecting Modern Families

FiLIP 2 incorporates new design elements based on real-world testing that help the company maintain its leadership position in the stand-alone wearable device market. The updated features of FiLIP 2 include:

  • Improved Wristband Design – While retaining the iconic look of the original device, the FiLIP 2 design is based on real-world play by kids. It has a more natural wrist shape and better flexibility, making it more comfortable for kids to wear.
  • Adjustable Sizing – Using optional size spacers, FiLIP 2 gives kids the choice to wear their wristband open or closed and adjust the size as they grow.
  • Enhanced Durability – To meet the physical play-style of children, FiLIP 2 has a more durable, encased screen that helps reduce the risk of accidental breakage.
  • Additional Colors – Four new colors including Watermelon Red and Superhero Blue (as the primary colors), and Awesome Orange and Limesicle Green (as accessory bands). Parents can select their child’s favorite color and mix or match spacer colors.
  • Improved Mobile App In addition to the key updates found in FiLIP 2, the company is also introducing new apps for iOS and Android with an improved user interface and an easier, more intuitive set-up process. The updated apps include all of the functional control over the FiLIP found in the previous app including the ability to set up to five approved contacts that can call and send text messages to the device. Parents can also still track the location of their child and establish SafeZones™.

“FiLIP is one of the market leaders in wearables and an important product in our portfolio of connected devices,” said Chris Penrose, senior vice president, Emerging Devices, AT&T Mobility. “It fills a void in the market as a device for parents who want to be in touch with their younger children without buying them a smartphone.”

In-store availability, pricing and service plans will be announced in the coming weeks. The new iOS app will be released alongside FiLIP 2, with the new Android app following shortly thereafter.

About Filip Technologies, Inc.

Filip Technologies, Inc. develops communication and location-based products and services designed to keep families in touch. Its products combine the two most important elements in family mobile offerings – communications and safety. The company’s flagship product, FiLIP, is the world’s first wearable phone and locator for children. Previewed to rave reviews at CES 2013, its patent-pending technology combines cellular voice with geo-location capability in a device small enough to be worn on a wrist. Founded in 2009 by Sten Kirkbak after he briefly lost track of his young son Filip in a shopping mall, Filip Technologies, Inc. is privately held with offices in New York, N.Y. and Raleigh, N.C. For more information, please visit www.myFilip.com.

Survey Methodology

The survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of Filip Technologies from August 13-15, 2014 among 2,016 adults ages 18 and older (among which 233 are parents/guardians of children ages 6-12). This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact filip@mslgroup.com.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s most reliable 4G LTE network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best global wireless coverage, based on offering roaming in more countries than any other U.S. based carrier, and offers the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV service with the AT&T U-verse® brand. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://about.att.com or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/att and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/att.

© 2014 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

Filip Technologies, Inc. and FiLIP are trademarks of Filip Technologies, Inc.

Contacts

MSLGROUP Boston
Jennifer Barlow or Kristen Perry, 781-684-0770
filip@mslgroup.com

Contacts

MSLGROUP Boston
Jennifer Barlow or Kristen Perry, 781-684-0770
filip@mslgroup.com