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The first WiFi home phone built for Australian families.

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CALLS OVER WIFI.
NO SIM. NO DATA.
NO INTERNET.

A WiFi-only phone for kids connects to your home NBN to make calls — no SIM card, no mobile data, no internet access for the child. In Australia, Yaps is the only dedicated WiFi phone built for children: parent-approved contacts, no screen, no apps, no browser.

VoIP Calling No SIM Required Works on Any NBN Updated April 2026

The Basics

WHAT IS A WIFI-ONLY PHONE
AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

A WiFi-only phone makes and receives calls over a WiFi network instead of a mobile carrier network. There is no SIM card. There is no mobile data plan. The phone connects to your home router — the same way your laptop or smart TV does — and uses that internet connection to send and receive voice calls.

The technology behind this is called VoIP: Voice over Internet Protocol. It is not new or experimental. VoIP has been powering business phone systems for decades. When you make a WhatsApp call or a FaceTime call, you are using VoIP. The difference with Yaps is that it is a dedicated calling device — there is no app, no screen, no browser. Just the phone call itself.

For a parent, the practical implication is significant: because the phone has no SIM, it cannot receive mobile calls, texts, or data from any carrier. It cannot be used outside the home. It cannot access the internet independently. The only time it works is when it is connected to your home WiFi — which means it is, structurally, a home phone.

A WiFi phone is to a smartphone what a landline is to a mobile. It does less on purpose. That is the point.

Step by Step

HOW A YAPS CALL ACTUALLY WORKS

This is what happens when your child picks up the Yaps handset and calls you — from setup to conversation.

1

Setup (Once)

You connect Yaps to your home WiFi through the web portal. Takes about 10 minutes. You add the contacts your child can call.

2

Your Child Picks Up

The handset shows the approved contact list. No login. No PIN. Just the names you have added.

3

One Button

Your child selects a contact and presses call. The signal goes from Yaps to your router.

4

Your Phone Rings

From your router, the VoIP call routes over your internet connection to the recipient's phone or landline. Normal call quality.

See the full How It Works →
SAFE

Safety Comparison

WHY WIFI-ONLY IS SAFER THAN
A SIM PHONE FOR KIDS

The safety difference between a WiFi-only phone and a SIM phone is not marginal. It is fundamental.

A SIM phone connects to a mobile carrier network that is available everywhere in Australia with signal coverage. It can make calls, send SMS, access mobile data, and browse the internet from any location — at the park, on the school bus, at a friend's house. The carrier plan can be set to data-free, but the SIM itself still provides a connection pathway that is difficult to fully eliminate.

A WiFi-only phone connects to one specific network: your home router. It does not have a carrier. It cannot connect to any other network. When your child walks out the front door, the phone stops working. When they are at home, it works — for calls only.

This is a structural safety difference. The WiFi-only constraint is not a setting that can be changed. It is the nature of the device. And for children aged 5–12 whose communication needs are primarily at home — calling a parent who is in the garden, calling grandparents after school, talking to a friend while they play — it covers the actual use case completely.

Your child does not need to reach you from the middle of Woolworths. They need to reach you from their bedroom. A WiFi phone does that job perfectly.

Comparison

WIFI PHONE VS SIM PHONE
FOR KIDS

Feature WiFi Phone (Yaps) SIM Mobile Phone
Makes voice calls Yes Yes
Monthly carrier plan needed No Yes
Can access the internet No Yes (even on data-free plans via WiFi)
Works outside the home No — stays home Yes — anywhere with signal
Parent controls contact list Yes — only approved contacts No — open contact list
Can send or receive SMS No Yes
Has a browser No Yes
Requires ongoing parental monitoring Minimal — contact list only Yes — ongoing
Appropriate age range 5–12 10+

Common Questions

FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS

What is a WiFi-only phone?

A phone that makes and receives calls over a WiFi network rather than a mobile carrier network. It has no SIM card and no mobile data connection. Calls are made using VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) — the same technology used by business phone systems. It can only be used when connected to a specific WiFi network (your home router).

How does VoIP calling work for kids?

VoIP converts voice into digital data and sends it over your internet connection. For a child using Yaps: they pick up the handset, select a contact, and the call goes from Yaps to your home router and out to the recipient's phone. The experience is identical to a traditional phone call. No technical knowledge required for the child.

Is WiFi calling as good quality as a regular phone call?

Yes, and in most cases better. VoIP calls over home broadband typically have higher audio quality than mobile calls. Standard Australian NBN connections are more than adequate for VoIP calling. If your WiFi signal is strong where the phone is placed, call quality will be reliable.

Does a WiFi phone need a monthly plan?

Yaps does not require a separate mobile carrier plan. The device uses your existing home internet connection. There is a Yaps service subscription that covers the VoIP infrastructure and parent management portal, but no additional SIM card, carrier plan, or data allowance is required.

Can a WiFi-only phone access the internet?

No. While Yaps connects to your home WiFi to make calls, it does not have a browser, app store, or any way to access web content. The WiFi connection is used exclusively for VoIP calling. This is not a software restriction — the device does not have the hardware or software needed to browse the web.

YAPS

A PHONE THAT
IS JUST A PHONE.

WiFi calling. No SIM. No browser. No internet. Just your child calling home. Join the founding families waitlist.

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Keep Reading

RELATED GUIDES

HOW YAPS WORKS

The full technical and practical walkthrough of setup, calling, and the parent portal.

KIDS PHONE WITHOUT INTERNET AUSTRALIA

Every option compared for parents who want a phone with zero internet access for their child.

WHAT MAKES A PHONE SAFE FOR KIDS?

A practical framework for evaluating any device your child might use.