Sprint intros shatterproof WeGo phone for kids

Apart from launching Samsung’s high-end Galaxy S5, Sprint today also released a new phone made for kids. Called WeGo, the handset is a “value-friendly mobile phone that allows parents to give their child the safety and communication tools they need when they are away from home.”

The Sprint WeGo is packed with safety features and extensive tracking functionality. Parents can limit the phone’s connections by programming which incoming and outgoing calls and messages can be made. Sprint provides a WeGo Portal that enables parents to control the handset, and track it via GPS.

The WeGo phone has only one button on the front, and a few buttons on the sides (two of these act as volume rockers, but also as menu controls). It also features a tether string that acts as a panic alarm when pulled, emitting a loud buzzer, and informing parents about the kid’s location via SMS. The device is water resistant and “shatterproof from a drop distance of 12 feet.”

Sprint is selling the WeGo starting today for “existing customers who add a line to their account.” The phone is offered for $0 down and 24 monthly payments of $5. There’s a Sprint WeGo Service that costs $9.99 per month, and includes 1,000 text messages and 1,000 minutes of talk.