What a Talk Only Phone Does and Does Not Do

·        Included: Outgoing and incoming calls, voicemail, contacts, a clock and an alarm, and on most models a calculator.

·        Not included: Text messaging in either direction. There is no messaging app and no way to add one.

·        Not included: Internet in any form. No browser, no data connection for apps, no hotspot.

·        Varies by model: Camera and music. The Ani Choma build removes the camera and limits music to files recorded on the device itself.

·        Set by us: The level is applied before the phone ships. The person carrying it cannot change it back.

Why Families Choose Talk Only

The honest reason most people land here is that talk and text is one step too many for the situation. A child needs to reach a parent from a bus stop. A student needs to call home from a dorm. A grandparent wants a phone that does not have a second screen full of things to explain.

There is also a policy reason. Many Lakewood-area school handbooks restrict internet-capable and smart devices, and some name the standard they expect. Check yours before you buy, because buying at this level once is cheaper than buying twice.

Talk Only Models We Stock

·        Fig Core Ani Choma, $169: Built specifically to the Ani Choma standard. Non-touch Gorilla Glass, 2 inch outer screen and 1.4 inch inner, metal hardware, MTK6765 chip, fully unlocked.

·        TCL Flip Kosher T408DL, $129: Our lowest price. Choose talk only at checkout. Unlocked worldwide including Canada and Israel, 1850 mAh, Hebrew keyboard.

·        Bliss, $139, or $99 with a carrier plan: Non-touch, 2000 mAh, 1 GB and 8 GB, no camera, Hebrew keyboard, under Vaad Hakehilos. Talk only or talk and text.

·        LG Classic Kosher, $200: Brand new stock. Choose your level of kosher, talk only or talk and text. Runs on Verizon towers through Selectel, Page Plus or TracFone.

·        Kyocera DuraXV, $189 to $220: Rugged refurbished carrier flips we configure to voice only: water resistant, hearing aid compatible, large keypad.

·        Kyocera Cadence S2720, $300: The sleeker, non-rugged flip in the family, also refurbished and configured by us.

Ani Choma and School Standards

Ani Choma is a Lakewood-area standard for the strictest talk only tier, and it is stricter than simply turning texting off. On an Ani Choma phone there is no camera, music is limited to files recorded on the device, transferring files to a computer is blocked, and schools can request expanded number-block lists for their students.

If your school named a standard, tell us the name when you order. If it did not, the Fig Core Ani Choma is the safest default. Note that Ani Choma service in the United States runs on its own Verizon-based plan, so the plan and the phone are chosen together rather than separately.

Moving Up a Level Later

A talk only phone is not a dead end. Several of the handsets on this page are the same hardware we sell at higher levels, which means the phone can often be reconfigured rather than replaced when the situation changes.

The TCL T408DL, the LG Classic, the Bliss and the whole Kyocera line all support more than one level. Bring the phone back to our Lakewood store or call us and we can move it to talk and text, or to talk, text and apps where the handset supports it. Buying the phone from us is what makes that possible, because a shop that did not configure it will not reconfigure it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a talk only phone receive text messages?

No. Messaging is removed in both directions, so texts sent to the number do not arrive and cannot be read later. If you want to receive texts but not much else, look at talk and text instead.

What is an Ani Choma phone?

Ani Choma is a strict talk only standard used in the Lakewood area. On an Ani Choma device there is no camera, music is limited to files recorded on the phone itself, file transfer to a computer is blocked, and schools can request extended number blocking. We sell the Fig Core Ani Choma at $169.

Is a talk only phone good for a child's first phone?

It is the usual starting point, and it is what most Lakewood-area schools expect. It gives a child a way to call home without giving them anything else to manage. Check your school handbook, because some name the standard or vendor they accept.

Do talk only phones have a camera?

It depends on the model. The Bliss has no camera at all and the Ani Choma build removes camera access. Other handsets can be configured with or without it. Tell us which you want before we build the phone.

Can my child turn texting back on?

No. The configuration is applied before the phone ships and there is no user-facing setting that reverses it. Changing the level means bringing the phone back to us.

Which carrier works with a talk only phone?

It depends on the handset. The TCL, Bliss and the Kyocera Extreme models offer Selectel Verizon at $15 a month, AT&T H2O at $20 or T-Mobile Ultra at $20. The LG Classic, Kyocera E4610 and Cadence are Selectel Verizon only, and the Fig Core Ani Choma runs on its own Verizon-based Ani Choma plan.

How much is the cheapest talk only phone?

The Bliss is $139 on its own and $99 when bought together with a carrier plan. The TCL Flip Kosher T408DL is $129 configured to talk only.

Can I switch to talk and text later?

Yes, on most models. The TCL, LG Classic, Bliss and Kyocera handsets all support more than one level, and we can reconfigure a phone we sold you.

Get Started with Kosher Phone

Buying a first phone or matching a school rule? Call 848-226-1102, come to 209 2nd St in Lakewood, or use our contact form.