UK MNer with a child aged 7-11? Testers needed to try out new smartphone for kids - £300 voucher to be won! NOW CLOSED

[EllieMumsnet]

We have been asked by Monqi, to find 20 MNers with a child aged 7-11 who hasn’t owned a mobile phone before, to test out their new smart phone, specifically developed for children. All parents also need to have their own smartphone, - to manage what their child does on their phone.

Monqi is a brand new mobile phone for kids which will launch on October 1st.

Here’s what Monqi had to say: “When should I buy my child a mobile phone? How do I keep them safe online? What about the costs? And what games are appropriate? Monqi is the revolutionary new mobile for kids which addresses parental concerns while giving children a phone they want. Monqi, Stay Close.”

If selected to take part, your child will get an Android smartphone with games, messaging, internet and Apps.

You will be sent the smartphone along with an active SIM card that includes the following - valid for one month from activation: 150 mins calls, 5000 texts and 1GB data. (note: if there is any “suspect” use eg international Calls, Premium Rate Calls etc, the SIM may get barred).

If selected, you and your child will need to test out the smartphone for 2 weeks making use of all of its features. Testers will have help and support from the mobile network during this time if needed.

Once the trial is over the SIM will be cancelled, but you will be able to keep the smartphone.

Selected testers will be required to leave feedback on a thread as well as completing a short survey. All who give the required feedback will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list). This test will take place in September so please only apply if you’re around during this month and are able to give feedback then.

If you’d like to take part, please add your details here
We will be in touch with those selected.

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

[pinkunicornsarefluffy]

there's no case here. The box wasn't sealed either.

Now saying there's no credit, do we need to register the sim? Trying to find out what the phone number is. I thought sim would be ready to go.

[pinkunicornsarefluffy]

Seem to have hit brick wall now, need phone number but it won't make a call so I can't see what it is. No helpline phone number for them, so will have to email

[outnumbered77]

Pink - you should just need to put in sim (slot 1, mentions that in the leaflet) and battery, charge up, then once fully charged it asks to connect to your wifi to update the software. After that you pair to the parent app .

[pinkunicornsarefluffy]

Yes , have gone all that. It won't make a phone call as it says the sim has exceeded its limit.

Emailed Monqi and had response already that they are looking into the sim.

All features seem good, (it's working on wifi ), have approved some apps and sent messages.

[pinkunicornsarefluffy]

Check your chargers, this happened to mine. Not having much luck 😂😂

[Theresnonamesleft]

We went out of the area today, yet according to the parent app, the phone was still at home. It wasn't though, it was with us.

[Theresnonamesleft]

Your charger is different to mine. THe white bit on mine is flat. Your looks round.. But that is still shocking.

[Wiifitmama]

This is the charger that came with ours

[Wiifitmama]

However, it is a standard charger. With 3 other android phone users in our house, we have many many that fit this phone.

[outnumbered77]

Oh dear you're not having much luck pink

[Ewanwhosearmy]

I was just coming on to ask if it is possible to register 2 parents to the one child, and see I'm hugely behind the curve.

I'm not at all technical and the lack of instructions was a bit of a pain. I managed to put the sim in upside down. Why are there 3 slots?

Linked it to my phone then tried to do DH's as well but it said there was a problem. I can't get the bar code thing back on DD's phone so I can link DH as well.

Didn't know about ringtones etc so thanks to PP's teen for finding them. DD is just having a play now, so we'll see how she goes.

Initial impressions nice sized phone and chunky feel. I was expecting a children's phone, so a bit disappointed it's just plain black. DD liked the choice of wallpaper and colour scheme, so that's good.

[Ewanwhosearmy]

Just answered my own question. On the parent site it says add child or. That asks if you want to add another caretaker and sends them a message. Perhaps I should have tried that first

[Soslowmo]

We were sent a white phone Ewan - didn't realise there were other colours.

Off to find the ring tones now and also pay the £4.49 for google play - is that right and have others done that now??

[Soslowmo]

Sorry - I can't find what to do to change the phone ring tones etc. Can anyone help?

Is the google payment a monthly cost?

Also, are there child safety features on what can be access when searching in google or YouTube?

[pinkunicornsarefluffy]

The main thing is they are being very helpful and trying to sort problems.

I like the way I get noticed ford when apps are downloaded. We've messaged each other and taken photos. I've limited app use so let's see what happens tomorrow when DD realises 😂😂

[Wiifitmama]

So here is a question....if we pay the subscription for the month (which by the way does not give you access to google play, only to the apps chosen for the jungle app store), do you only have access to the apps for as long as you subscribe? So if you pay for one month and then cancel, you lose all the apps?

[Soslowmo]

Those are the questions I would also like answered wiifit. Ds keeps asking me to pay, but I said I have to wait to hear from you lot what we should do next!!!

Notifications - I am finding I sometimes get notifications of a message from ds (on the monqi app) and other times not. I can only read his messages in the monqi app and they dont appear in my usual messages, even if I send him a message from there.

I think we have sorted the volume button for YouTube and also the ringtone. I also accidentally identified the emergency services button 🙈 - I have shown ds where this is (swipe left) and told him to only press this is an emergency 😬

[pinkunicornsarefluffy]

Can you only message through the app? I want to just be able to text as usual not go into the app. Will test that once I can charge the phone again, as they are sending new charger out.

I've only ever had apple, 3 iPhones since 2012 so have never used android or any other smart phone.

It's been interesting so far to test this phone with DD. She seems quite happy with it so far and not bothered by any differences to iPhone.

She would like snapchat on it though .

[Soslowmo]

No, you can message normally, but his replies only show up in the monqi app for me. When anyone else messages him the messages are in the normal message place.

As in the picture, only my outgoing messages are showing on 'my messages' - the ones he sent me in reply to each message can only be seen if I go through the monqi app.

[Theresnonamesleft]

Which is annoying as I keep forgetting I have to look in the app for his replies instead of where I automatically go, my messages.

[Wiifitmama]

I keep getting logged out of the parents app and have to put my password in again. Anyone else have this? I am using an iPhone 6.