Human Mobile Devices (HMD) has partnered with Xplora, one of the leading providers of smartwatches for children, to produce responsible and mindful devices for children and teenagers.
Xplora and HMD will develop solutions that aim to protect the safety and mental well-being of children and young people. This will allow parents to manage and control screen time, and social media and help younger users navigate the digital world with confidence, as per the company.
HMD, a smartphone manufacturer in Eupore, launched ‘The Better Phone Project’ this year to understand the parent’s concerns. A global survey of 10,000 parents indicated that more than half regretted handing over a smartphone to their child as early as they did.
They felt the device negatively impacted the time spent with family and the sleep cycle of their children. It also reduced their physical exercise and limited their time socialising with friends.
This partnership intends to combine their expertise to provide a solution and help the parents regulate the screen time of their kids.
According to the company, HMD is designing a suite of new solutions that serve as alternatives to smartphones, including a new type of phone, which are better suited to the needs of children and teens. However, HMD already introduced a new ‘Detox Mode’ for its two smartphones, HMD Skyline and HMD Fusion to help people digitally disconnect.
Although specific products have not been announced. As per the reports, the first batch is expected to be unveiled at the Mobile World Congress in March 2025.
Jean-Francois Baril, CEO and Chairman of HMD said, “We are excited to join forces with Xplora to deliver tech solutions tailored to the unique needs of children and young people. At Human Mobile Devices, putting ‘human’ at the core of everything we do is in our DNA. Our teams oversee the complete development process, from software to hardware, ensuring top-tier quality, certification, and security. This allows us to foster a healthy and positive relationship with technology—providing all the essential features, without any unnecessary distractions.”
Expressing his excitement about the collaboration, Sten Kirkbak, Chief Executive Officer of Xplora said, “We are thrilled to collaborate with HMD in our expansion into the youth market. This partnership not only delivers the best possible tech devices for our customers but also expands our products allowing our customers to continue their journey with Xplora beyond the smartwatch stage.”
