\n\tIf you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, The Hollywood Reporter may receive an affiliate commission.<\/p>\n
\n\tNostalgic reboots<\/a> aren\u2019t just a Hollywood thing<\/a>. For movie lovers of a certain age, The Parent Trap<\/em> \u2014 in which identical twins separated at birth swap places for the summer \u2014 dials up childhood memories of what we now call \u201cdumb phones.\u201d (And yes, the 1961 original starring Hayley Mills<\/a> and the 1998 remake with Lindsay Lohan<\/a> both work in this case study.) Mills\u2019 and Lohans\u2019 tween characters communicate via an old-school telephone \u2014 complete with a coiled cord! \u2014 to keep their switcheroo scheme going; in one instance, even ye olde ancient telegram is involved. Screen-free communication made life simpler; a calendar invite wasn\u2019t required to set a play date.<\/p>\n \n\tNo wonder The Atlantic<\/em>\u2018s recent story on landlines for kids<\/a> was the headline reposted by exhausted, plugged-in parents around the world. Amid studies noting the negative effects of social media<\/a> and screen time on children\u2019s attention spans and mood<\/a>, caregivers are forgoing smartwatches and smartphones to give their screen-obsessed kiddos a lesson in \u201colden days\u201d communication. For parents \u2014 including this writer \u2014 fed up with playing telephone operator and calendar keeper, a landline feels like the smartest solution.<\/p>\n \n\tAfter that article, this parent of two was among those Googling \u201chow to set up a landline using a cell phone.\u201d A recent switch to T-Mobile<\/a> got us a free third line (via a monthly bill credit) when we ported our family\u2019s existing two numbers to the mobile carrier. With an extra SIM card and no chance that our 7- and 9-year-olds will get a phone anytime soon, we went on a hunt to find a device that could MacGyver<\/a> a cell phone into a modern-day, screen-free tin can. (Kids these days should know their way around a paperclip<\/a>, right?) <\/p>\n \n\tRelated: <\/strong>The Best Cell Phone Plans Offering Free iPhones, Netflix and More Perks <\/a><\/p>\n \n\tOur search led to Cell2Jack<\/a>, an adapter that plugs into your landline phone and uses Bluetooth to connectsto an existing cell phone with wireless service. We used an old Samsung Galaxy S21 phone for our extra cell line, but any device that supports 5G can work. <\/p>\n \n\tSetup was seamless and we were able to send and receive calls immediately. The smartphone still functions normally, but our kids don\u2019t get access to the device (no texting, Googling, YouTube, etc.). Next on our McGyvering to-do list: a screen-free answering machine so the kiddos know when a voicemail arrives.<\/p>\n \n\tSo far, the dumb phone has been our success. Our kids called all their grandparents within 24 hours of the phone\u2019s connection. (There was a learning curve when it came to the rotary dial and leaving a voicemail message. \u201cA robot grandma was talking to me,\u201d our daughter explained.) Their cousins are next on the call list. And they\u2019re excited to share their numbers with new classmates now that school has begun. (If the phone starts ringing off the hook, ask us again if we\u2019re happy with our decision.)<\/p>\n \n\tIf you don\u2019t have T-Mobile, other wireless providers, including Verizon<\/a> and AT&T<\/a>, offer ways to link your cell <\/a>to a home telephone.<\/p>\n \n\tWant to set up your own landline? Shop the Cell2Jack below, plus some of our favorite retro and novelty phones from Amazon, Etsy<\/a> and beyond for adding some fun to your kids\u2019 (or your) next convos.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t<\/a>\t<\/div> \t\t\t\t<\/a>\t<\/div> \n\tOrange you glad it\u2019s a banana?<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t<\/a>\t<\/div> \n\tWhat this phone lacks in style, it makes up for in utility. Those with AT&T can use the Connect to Cell feature to use this cordless handset with their mobile phone line.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t<\/a>\t<\/div> \n\tDownton Abbey <\/em>called: it wants its candlestick phone back.<\/p>\n \n\tBasic in beige \u2014 complete with a mechanical ringtone and light indicator. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t<\/a>\t<\/div> \n\tThrow it back to Juno<\/em><\/a> with this cheeseburger phone.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCELL2JACK Cellphone to Home Phone Adapter\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBanana Phone Bluetooth Handset for iPhone and Android Mobile Devices (Single Banana)\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGPO 746 Retro Rotary Dial Landline Phone\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSangyn Rotary Landline Telephone\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAT&T DL72319 DECT 6.0 3-Handset Cordless Phone for Home with Connect to Cell\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOpis 1921 Cable C: The Wooden Old Fashioned Landline Phone\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tClassic Traditional Landline Phone with Visible Ringing Indicator\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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