SkieCan my child call and text anyone on a Skie-managed phone?
Yes, by default. Calls and SMS work like on any phone. You can switch off outgoing calls or SMS for a device, for example for a young child. Blocking unknown numbers and allowing family contacts only are not available yet, so the usual choice today is on or off.
On a phone with a SIM, Skie does not sit between your child and the people they call. Dialling, texting and answering work as normal, as long as the phone app and a messaging app are allowed.
You have two switches. One turns off SMS. The other turns off outgoing calls. Incoming calls still ring, and emergency calls always work. Parents of a six year old often turn off outgoing calls and SMS and rely on a few approved apps instead. Parents of a teenager usually leave both on.
What is not available yet: blocking unknown numbers, a contacts-only calling list, and allowing family contacts only. We would rather say so plainly. The team is working on it, with no date.
Skie does not include a mobile plan or SIM. You use your own carrier. A Wi-Fi-only tablet cannot make ordinary calls at all, but it can use any calling or messaging app you allow.
Skie does not read messages or call logs, so you will not see who your child called. If you want some structure, choose messaging apps carefully, as each has its own contact settings, and set a bedtime window that allows only calls overnight so the phone stays useful but quiet.
Tip: for a first phone, start with calls and one messaging app, and add others later.