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The myFirst Fone R1 is not to be confused with a toy, it can have more serious uses. 

Built around a traditional circular wristwatch, this product sets out to provide features that might appeal to both the young child and parents.  Befitting its targeted market, the myFirst Fone R1, to give it its full title, would hardly be considered a stylist item.  However the bulky watch element and the rubber wrist strap, both coloured black in my review sample, should suit most children with its multifunction purpose rather than appearance being regarded as its main attribute.  Other colours available include blue and purple for this splash proof device.

Arranged around the outside of the watch face, analogue rather than digital, are buttons for power and a back feature on the left side.  Situated between these two buttons is a pull-tray holding the SIM card enabling the device to perform its secondary function as a phone.  The use of a pull-out tray for holding the SIM card should ensure that there should be no problem over loosing the pin-print device  required with devices aimed at adults.  I do suspect that the phone feature will perhaps be regarded by the child, and even the parents, as the main use with time checking being relegated to that of a minor function.

See also: Smart Watches

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Protruding from the right side of the watch face is the unit's camera facility and an SOS  button that is meant to be used for calling for help in the case of difficulty.  While these various features are easily accessible, I felt they were more suitably positioned to suit a right-handed user who would position the unit on their left wrist.

The myFirst Fone unit is powered by a 580 mAh battery.  This facility will need to be recharged on a two-to-three day basis.  This task is achieved using a supplied USB lead.  However this is not the usual type of USB lead I have become use to.  In this case the lead has a standard USB socket at one end for connecting to a power plug or computer.  The delivery end of the lead features a four-pin connection that is magnetised so that it automatically links to a charging facility on the rear of the watch element.  The rear of the watch is also where you will find the unit's speaker outlet and a sensor unit.

As this is a multifunction device that can provide a virtual link between child and parents, the myFirst Fone will require certain tasks to be carried out before it can be used.  These tasks, which include the insertion of a SIM card, downloading of the myFirst Fone app from the App Store or Play Store, registering the product and adding it to the smartphone, are covered in the Quick Start Guide provided with the product.  These tasks, no doubt, will be carried out by the parent rather than the child.

The myFirst Fone R1 offers a range of features that should appeal to both the child and parents.  With the ability to provide up to 10 hours of audio playback, this device comes with built-in MP3 audio playback and loudspeaker facilities so the child can listen to music or an audio book.  This content will need to be downloaded from a computer using the same lead as that required as part of the charging process.  While out-and-about the child can use the watch to capture favourite images using the built-in 2MP camera facility.  The watch will also capture the number of steps taken by the child in an effort to encourage a more healthy life style.

But that is not all.  Using its combination of GPS, WiFi and GSM technology, parents can keep a check on the myFirst Fone R1 wearer's location and even, when necessary, impose Geo-Fencing boundaries to help safeguard the child to avoid certain locations.  The presence of the SOS facility means that parents should receive an emergency location alert when activated by the child.  In more normal circumstances, the child can initiate voice or video calls either with parents or other children that have a similar device and within their chosen group.

Specifications

myFirst.tech has priced this product at £159.90.

https://store.myfirst.tech/products/myfirst-fone-r1?variant=34696730509445