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From the Toysit archive

Zipit Wireless Messenger

Picture Zipit’s clamshell keyboard and short-message world, with an original paper-postcard activity about words, mood and friendly replies.

Historical toy profileFirst published Context reviewed
Silver Zipit clamshell messenger with an upright dark screen, small black QWERTY keys and directional controls above the keyboard.
Original Zipit Wireless Messenger image from Toysit’s earlier coverage.

The play at a glance

A tiny writing desk that folds shut

Lift the lid and the Zipit becomes a little desk: screen above, rows of round black keys below, and a compact set of direction buttons near the hinge. Toysit’s silver example makes the physical act of composing a message easy to picture—choose a friend, find the words and add a small expression of mood.

A conversation built from small decisions

The original launch report describes a Wi-Fi instant messenger with a friends-list button and customizable emoticon choices. Its appeal is visible in the arrangement: a whole small keyboard devoted to composing a few lines, with the reply arriving above it. The historical account records the services and expectations of that moment in personal electronics.

A message has several parts even when it is short. There is the thing that happened, the feeling attached to it and the invitation for another person to answer. Imagine a traveler reporting, “The bridge is covered in flowers!” A surprised face gives it one mood; a worried face suggests a different adventure.

For a present-day companion activity, keep that exchange on paper. Invented correspondents and made-up places leave plenty of room for playful messages, revisions and replies.

Send emoticon expedition postcards

This original Toysit activity works with paper, pencils and two storytellers.

  1. Invent two correspondents: perhaps a lighthouse keeper and an explorer visiting a floating garden. Give each an imaginary mailbox on the table.
  2. Write a one-sentence expedition update on a large card. Add a drawn face or a simple emoticon such as a smile or a surprised expression.
  3. Pass the card to the other storyteller. Ask them to describe how they think the sender feels and point to the words or symbol that suggested it.
  4. If the meaning came across differently than you intended, revise one word or add one detail. “I found a giant footprint” can become “I found a friendly giant’s footprint beside a welcome sign.”
  5. Write a reply that includes one friendly question. “What grows in the garden?” gives the next postcard somewhere to begin.

Lay the exchange in order and read it aloud as a two-voice scene. The pictures and words may reveal how the story changed with each answer. Try one final card containing only a face, then discuss how much context the earlier messages supplied.

The historical record

Original Toysit coverage

The complete earlier product account and commentary are preserved below as historical coverage.

Portable IM connectivity device connected to 802.11b/g wireless home networks or public wi-fi hotspots

Instant messaging has become an integral part of the way young people communicate and connect in the modern world. It offers several benefits that contribute to reducing feelings of isolation:

  • Real-Time Communication: Instant messaging allows for immediate interaction, enabling young people to stay connected with friends and family, even when physically apart.
  • Accessibility: With smartphones and internet access, instant messaging is available to most young people, making it easy to reach out to others at any time and from anywhere.
  • Group Chats: The ability to create group chats fosters a sense of community and belonging, as young people can engage with multiple friends simultaneously.
  • Emojis and GIFs: The use of emojis, GIFs, and other visual elements adds a playful and expressive dimension to conversations, making them more engaging and relatable.
  • Connection with Like-Minded Individuals: Instant messaging platforms often host communities and groups centered around common interests, hobbies, or experiences, allowing young people to connect with others who share similar passions.
  • Support and Encouragement: In times of need, young people can quickly reach out to friends for support and encouragement through instant messaging, reinforcing social bonds.
  • Privacy: Many instant messaging apps offer privacy features, allowing for more intimate and personal conversations, which can be comforting for those who may feel shy or vulnerable in public settings.
  • Integration with Social Media: The integration of instant messaging with social media platforms ensures seamless communication, keeping young people in the loop with their social circles.

Overall, instant messaging serves as a versatile and accessible tool that empowers young people to maintain social connections, express themselves, and find communities that resonate with them. By facilitating continuous communication and interaction, it plays a vital role in alleviating feelings of loneliness and isolation in today's digitally connected world.

In 2004, the Zipit Wireless Messenger was a low-cost portable IM device that connectd to 802.11b/g wireless home networks or free hotspots and enabled teens to chat away with no service fee. Priced at $99.99, Zipit was way to get kids off the phone and the family PC to talk to their friends in as many conversations as they like. Zipit Wireless Messenger supported the most popular instant messaging services and allowed users to enjoy secure, uninterrupted connectivity to online friends.

Designed with the help of kids and parents specifically for the young IM market, Zipit Wireless Messenger included a variety of features to personalize the device, including the My Friendz list to quickly locate online friends and My Emoticonz, which provides easy use of pre-programmed emoticons (symbols, such as a smiley face, frequently used in IM to express an emotion) while typing a message.

With a compact, clamshell design, the Zipit Wireless Messenger measured in at 4.25 inches wide by 3.6 inches long and .8 inches deep and only weighs about eight ounces, making it easily portable. It features a 320x240 LCD screen and a full QWERTY keyboard for fast typing. A rechargeable battery provides four to eight hours of non-stop chatting. Zipit comes in six colors: Inferno Red, Icicle White, Ocean Blue, Pink Ice, Mercury Silver, and Carbon Charcoal.

With a focus on security, Zipit gave parents the peace of mind that their kids are chatting with friends without the threat of viruses, SPIM, pop-ups and other unwanted information from unsolicited senders. Zipit has built in encryption and firewall to create a fun and safe chatting experience.

In addition to supporting multiple IM protocols simultaneously, Zipit Wireless Messenger supported upgrades for playback of streaming music and customized fonts, sounds, and emoticons.

The clamshell Wi-Fi device was developed by Aeronix.

Sources and editorial notes

The 2004 launch account supplies the retail MyFriendz/MyEmoticonz descriptions. The PPQ-WL100BA51 filing’s two-page exterior photographs were visually reviewed, along with text from selected sections of its 25-page “Zippy” guide. The filing shows related hardware but an unfinished guide with placeholders and demo-software references, not a confirmed final retail manual. Contemporary enterprise Zipit products are different. Earlier security, uninterrupted-service and well-being assertions are preserved historical claims, not verified assurances. Current service availability and network compatibility have not been established; no account, network or physical-device testing was performed.

Images and descriptions are retained as historical material. How Toysit covers toys.

Created for Toysit by Tabbloza — the artwork in our header.