From the Toysit archive
ChatNow Communicators
A pocket radio with a camera and texting keypad invites short field reports, illustrated messages and a shared expedition log.
The play at a glance
A field report in your pocket
The silver ChatNow communicator has the look of a little phone: a portrait screen, green controls and a keypad that opens out below. Its blue packaging puts talking, text messages and pictures together. Imagine pausing beside a pretend landmark, choosing the most interesting detail and sending a short report back to the expedition desk.
Talk, type and give a buddy a face
Hasbro’s guide describes three linked pleasures: taking turns over the radio, composing a message on the keypad and taking a picture for an album or buddy entry. A stored portrait can appear when that buddy calls. These little choices give a message a recognizable sender as well as something to say.
The radio conversation has a clear rhythm: hold the talk button while speaking, then release it to listen. Players share a channel. For real use, an adult should agree the play area and review the matching instructions. Treat radio conversation as public and keep personal information out of messages.
Try a pocket expedition dispatch
Draw three landmarks on separate cards: a bent tree, a striped bridge and a tiny observatory. Place them around a tabletop map. One player is the explorer; another keeps the expedition log. The explorer chooses a landmark and sends three things: its name, one visible detail and a question. “Striped bridge: one plank is blue. Who painted it?”
The log keeper repeats the location and detail, then adds an imagined answer. Perhaps the observatory keeper paints a blue plank every spring. Draw that new detail on the map. Swap jobs at the next landmark so that both players contribute discoveries and explanations.
Spoken messages across the table or folded paper dispatches make the whole activity work. A communicator, when an adult has checked its setup, is an optional way to carry the same short reports. End by arranging the three messages into a miniature travel diary, including one unanswered question for tomorrow’s expedition.
The historical record
Original Toysit coverage
The complete earlier product account and commentary are preserved below as historical coverage.
Two-way talk and text message without fees or bills and take pictures with the built-in digital camera
Chat with your friends or send them text messages up to two miles away with the Chat Now communicator. Talk one-on-one with your best friend or chat with everyone in your chat zone at the same time. You can send and save text messages, even add symbols to personalize them. Take pics of your pals and save them to your communicator. . . there's a digital camera built in. Animate their photos and save them to your personal buddy list. There are no fees, no bills and no minutes to keep track of. Saved buddy photos, ten different ring tones . . . access them with the easy-to-use controls, flip-out keypad and the push-to-talk button. Turn it on, flip it out, and get talking. ChatNow Communicator with flip-out keypad lets you chat or text your friends from up to two miles away. Built-in digital camera. Save pics of your friends to your personal buddy list. This 2-way radio has a range of under two miles under typical conditions.
Walkie-talkie type instant messengers that operate without the Internet and have a two-mile range provide a sense of adventurous freedom and immediate communication that children absolutely love. Whether they're exploring the backyard, the neighborhood, or even just different floors of the house, these devices allow kids to stay in contact and share their discoveries in real-time. Unlike online messaging, the limited range gives a certain immediacy and locality to the interactions, making the experience more tangible and focused. It also adds an element of role-playing and imaginative play, as children can pretend to be spies, adventurers, or emergency responders while using their walkie-talkies. Importantly, the absence of an Internet connection enhances safety and ensures that communication is only between known parties. These features make walkie-talkie type instant messengers a fun and enriching experience for kids.
Sources and editorial notes
Hasbro’s 20-page 75028/72970 guide covers flip-out and slide-out versions; text and selected control/channel diagrams were reviewed. Its shared-channel and FRS description corrects the preserved essay’s claim that the device ensures contact only with known parties. Buddy numbers do not establish private communications. The advertised two-mile range depends on terrain, conditions and unobstructed line of sight. The expedition is an original Toysit activity; no radio, range or privacy testing was performed.
- Original Toysit image — Existing same-site image reviewed and retained unchanged.
- Hasbro ChatNow instructions (PDF) — Original 20-page manufacturer guide, including shared channels, radio compatibility, messages and photographs.
- Original Toysit coverage — Complete historical account retained, including its original claims and wording.
Images and descriptions are retained as historical material. How Toysit covers toys.
Created for Toysit by Tabbloza — the artwork in our header.