What Happened to Disney Mobile?

Disney Mobile — which offered specialty cell phones for kids, as well as parental controls — shut down its MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) services last month. Since we still have a number of customers asking about Disney Mobile or looking for Disney cell phones on our site, we’d like to answer whatever lingering questions you might still have.

Q: Where can I buy Disney Mobile cell phones for my kids?

Disney Mobile service is no longer on sale. Disney announced in September that they are ceasing MVNO operations. Customers will continue to have access to their wireless service until December 31, 2007, at which point they’ll need to switch to a different carrier.

Q: Are there other cell phones designed specifically for kids?

The features that most appealed to parents about Disney Mobile were the parental controls that were built into the service. Both Sprint and Verizon Wireless have family-friendly cell phone features like GPS child locator.

And cell phones like Verizon’s LG Migo and the AT&T Firefly incorporated additional controls that limited what numbers could be dialed, for example, but most parents find that a normal, but basic, phone tends to be more popular with kids.

Q. What are similar services from other wireless carriers?

Both Verizon Wireless and Sprint offer child locator services that allow parents or guardians to monitor their kids’ whereabouts in a quick an non-interfering way, using built-in GPS technology.

Verizon Wireless offers services called Chaperone and Child Zone that are compatible with the LG Migo kids phone. Sprint offers a service called Family Locator that works similarly.

Q. If I’m a current Disney Mobile user, can I just use my Disney phone with a different carrier? Which carrier do I need to switch to?

Unfortunately Disney cell phones are not compatible for use on other carriers’ wireless networks. You will need to get different phones for your new cell phone accounts, ones that are compatible with the new carrier’s network – whichever wireless provider you decide to switch to.

Q. Can I keep my Disney Mobile cell phone number if I switch to a different service?

Yes! In order to keep the phone number you currently have and to ensure uninterrupted service, it is advised that you open a new line of service with a different carrier before November 30. When you port your number to the new carrier, that carrier will automatically notify Disney Mobile to close your account. Do not close your Disney Mobile account until you’ve successfully opened a new account with a different carrier or you will not be able to keep your current cell phone number.

To learn more about how Wirefly can help you port your existing cell phone number to a new carrier, visit Wirefly’s Keeping Your Existing Number resource page.