Entrepreneur Launches Landline Phone with Modern Features

In a surprising twist, an entrepreneur has reportedly sold 1,000 revamped landline phones within just 72 hours.

Cat Goetze, the mind behind Physical Phones, believes many people feel overwhelmed by technology taking over their lives. Her innovative approach to reviving the landline phone has resulted in sales totaling $120,000.

“These days, people don’t even remember phone numbers,” she mentioned while speaking on a recent program. “I started Physical Phone because it’s clear that most people don’t actually dislike technology.”

Goetze’s physical phone mimics the look of classic rotary models from the past, including those wall-mounted varieties popular in the ’70s and ’80s. But here’s the catch: it won’t work with a traditional phone line. Instead, it operates on a rechargeable battery and connects with modern smartphones via Bluetooth.

“Since remembering phone numbers isn’t common anymore, we’ve integrated a pretty neat feature. With Bluetooth, you can simply pick up the phone and press star to activate Siri. Then, you can say, ‘Call Mom,’ and it does just that,” she explained.

Earlier this year, Goetze shared an amusing anecdote about how she “hacked” a Bluetooth antenna into a pink landline phone, just for the fun of it. “The curly cord made me smile,” she recalled.

Speaking to audiences, she emphasized that young people shouldn’t have to make an extreme choice—like tossing their smartphones away or aimlessly scrolling for hours. “What we’re offering is a way to experience connection without the constant distractions,” she added.

Ultimately, the idea here is to reroute all video and voice calls from mobile applications like WhatsApp, FaceTime, and Snapchat to the landline-style phone. This way, users can detach from the ceaseless temptations of their smartphones.

“Interestingly, those most enthusiastic about it are younger folks who have never really used a landline phone. They grew up with smartphones, and there’s a sort of nostalgia for simpler connections,” Goetze remarked.

For context, a product called the NoPhone hit the market back in 2014 as an alternative for people looking to detach from smartphones. It mimics a smartphone’s appearance but holds no functionality. Recently, an updated version, the NoPhone Selfie Update, launched, featuring a mirror for taking selfies, retailing for around $23.

Services similar to what Goetze offers are also available from AT&T and Verizon, featuring their own options for landline connections.