Thomas Unise
The Tin Can, a WiFi-enabled toy phone designed as a safe communication option for children too young for cell phones, experienced a major service outage on Christmas Day 2023, leaving parents frustrated and children disappointed.
What Happened to the Tin Can?
The Tin Can is a colorful, landline-style phone that operates over WiFi, allowing children to communicate with approved contacts. The device offers free calls to other Tin Can users, with an optional $10 monthly subscription for outside calls.
On Christmas morning, when many children received the toy as a gift, the service experienced a massive failure. According to founder Chet Kittleson, call volume increased more than 100 times compared to early December, overwhelming their systems despite months of preparation.
Impact on Users
Parents reported inconsistent service, with dial tones sometimes appearing but calls failing to connect. The irony wasn’t lost on observers that an actual tin can with string might have been more reliable during the outage.
While service has largely been restored, the company’s website still acknowledges “lingering issues” with call quality as of January 8th.
About the Company
The Seattle-based startup has expanded to serve families across more than 30 states and raised $15.5 million in funding. However, this substantial backing wasn’t enough to prevent the Christmas Day failure at a critical moment for making a positive first impression with new users.
Key Takeaways
- The incident highlights the vulnerability of connected devices that rely on central infrastructure
- Even well-funded startups can struggle with scaling issues during peak demand
- The timing of the outage (Christmas morning) maximized disappointment for users
- The company appears to be recovering but still working through technical challenges
This case serves as a cautionary tale about the potential pitfalls of internet-connected toys and devices, particularly when they experience unexpected surges in usage.
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