Tin Can Kids Phone Service Overloaded on Christmas

Tin Can, a WiFi-connected landline phone designed for children, faced significant service disruptions on Christmas morning due to overwhelming demand. The device, which allows kids to call approved contacts without a smartphone, became an instant hit during the holidays, leading to a system overload that left many children unable to make calls.

Founder Chet Kittelson issued an apology to customers, admitting that the company's preparations fell short despite months of planning. To address the issue, Tin Can has waived monthly fees for affected users and is working diligently to stabilize the service. The incident highlights the growing popularity of low-tech communication devices for children and the challenges of scaling a viral product.

The excitement of opening a new Tin Can phone on Christmas morning turned to frustration for many families when the service failed to connect. The company reported that call volume on Christmas Day increased more than 100x from the start of the month, severely impacting the ability of users to set up their devices or make calls.

Founder Chet Kittelson acknowledged the failure in a statement, noting, "Despite spending months and months preparing for it, we didn't get it all right." While most services are back up and running, there are still lingering issues with call quality and reliability. The team is currently working around the clock to fully restore service.

Parents reported inconsistent performance, with some calls going through while others failed to connect. Maria Pahuja, a parent in Richmond, Virginia, noted that while the phone worked great on Christmas Eve, it stopped working consistently on Christmas morning. "Sometimes you'd pick it up, and there would be a dial tone, you would call, and nothing would happen," she said.

Launched in the fall of 2024, Tin Can was founded by Chet Kittelson, Max Blumen, and Graeme Davies based on a desire to create a communication tool for their own children. The device is a colorful, corded phone that operates on WiFi rather than traditional landline infrastructure. It costs $75, with the option to pay $10 a month to call outside lines via VoIP technology.

The appeal for parents lies in its simplicity and safety features. The system allows parents to create a closed circuit where children can only make and receive calls to and from approved contacts. Additional features include the ability to set time limits and program "quiet hours" to silence the device.

Despite the recent technical difficulties, many parents view the device as a valuable tool for fostering independence. Joy Engel, a parent from Maine, noted that the service outages provided a teaching moment regarding patience and accountability. "The company has been so forthright in what they say and how they've communicated and stopped charging people. That's accountability," she said.

The popularity of Tin Can has grown rapidly through word of mouth, particularly in parenting groups on social media platforms. By late August 2025, the company had sold tens of thousands of devices and raised $3.5 million in funding from investors including Pioneer Square Ventures and Newfund Capital.

Due to the service issues and high demand, the company has placed the device on backorder until April. Chet Kittelson clarified that this delay is not due to manufacturing constraints but is a strategic decision to pace the onboarding of new users and prevent further service instability.

For now, the company continues to email customers with updates on the restoration of service. Parents looking for a way to communicate with their children without providing a smartphone may still have to wait several months to get their hands on the popular device.