Exton device fair: Compare phones, watches and controls

Chester County families can compare alternatives to an unrestricted smartphone at the Greater Philadelphia Alternative Device Fair, scheduled for Sunday, November 8, from 2 to 5 p.m. in Exton.

The organizer’s event listing gives the location as Chester County Council, Scouting America, at One Scouting Way. Its flyer identifies PA Unplugged and MyPhone by Ooma as presenters and lists Ooma, Pinwheel and Ring Ring Club among the vendors. The page includes an RSVP form, and the flyer schedules speakers at 2:30 and 4 p.m.

For parents deciding how a child will call home, the differences go beyond the shape of the device. A phone connected to a home router, a cellular watch and a phone with parent controls have different connections, recurring costs and settings to manage.

A home phone still needs a connection

Ooma’s MyPhone documentation says its base station connects through WiFi or an Ethernet cable to a router. Its Trusted Circle restricts communication to approved contacts, while parents can review call logs and schedule quiet hours.

The page checked November 7 lists a blue phone and base station at $99.99, with service at $7.99 a month plus applicable taxes and fees. That monthly charge is separate from the hardware price.

For the Exton demonstration, ask to see the contact approval process and what happens when home internet or power is unavailable. Ooma also says the registered location must be kept current for its address based 911 service. That is a setup responsibility to check before relying on the phone.

Parent controls depend on the settings

Pinwheel’s setup guide describes choosing a phone and cellular carrier, then configuring a caregiver portal. Parents can manage contacts, view text and call history, add apps and schedule when contacts and apps are available.

One detail deserves attention at a vendor table: Pinwheel says a web browser is not installed by default, but one can be added through Google Play. It also offers a transition from a parent managed contact list to a child managed list.

Those are choices to demonstrate on the actual phone. Ask which settings are enabled at purchase, who can change them and which carrier plans work with the exact model being considered.

Watches have their own service costs

PA Unplugged’s separate alternative device guide includes watches such as Bark. That guide is broader than the fair’s named vendor list and does not establish that every listed company will attend.

Bark’s current watch page describes calls and texts over LTE without a separate phone. It lists a $288 device price and a required $15 monthly service plan, with that pricing applying to purchases on or after November 3, 2026.

Bark says the watch has no camera, browser, games or social media. Contact approval is configurable: parents can require approval or permit contact without it. The company also says all watch apps become unavailable after a canceled plan’s billing period ends. Ask about coverage where the child will use it and what remains usable after a subscription ends.

Bring a configuration checklist

At the fair, ask vendors to show contact approval, app permissions and caregiver access rather than relying on a category label. Request the hardware price, recurring charges, return terms and written explanation of how location and message data are stored or deleted.

These are comparisons of published product documentation, not independent tests of security, coverage or child safety. PA Unplugged advocates delaying smartphones and social media; its event offers one approach for families to examine.

For a separate school technology question, our Phoenixville app privacy report explains the distinction between reviewing an app’s data practices and monitoring device use. Find more local reporting in our Chester County coverage.

Image credit: Illustrative stock photograph by KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA on Pexels, used under the Pexels License. It does not depict the Exton fair or the products discussed.