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Kids soccer team cheering

Parents React to Relay | Watch Testimonials

June 6, 2019/in Relay in Action

Relay isn’t just a toy – it’s a tool that keeps families connected, allowing kids to experience the independence they need to grow. See what parents are saying about how Relay has affected their families.

Relay: Why It Works from Relay on Vimeo.

“Relay makes sense for our family because I believe kids need independence but they also need to be safe.” -John, father of two

Learn more about Relay here on the blog or at relaygo.com – or check us out on Amazon or a Target store near you.

Shop Relay

https://blog.relaypro.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/overlay-1.png 300 695 Victoria Seng https://blog.relaypro.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/relay_blog.svg Victoria Seng2019-06-06 15:48:342021-04-02 11:18:07Parents React to Relay | Watch Testimonials

Missed Messages: The Ultimate User Guide

June 3, 2019/in Relay in Action

relay app with missed messages feature

What is the missed messages feature?

Relay works kind of like a walkie-talkie, where you hear new messages as soon as they are sent. With missed messages, you can still listen to a message even if you miss it coming though. If you are offline or using a different Relay chat or channel, new Direct Chat messages will wait to play until you’re ready to listen to them.

How does it work?

Real-time vs missed messages

Sometimes your Relay messages will come through in real-time, and in other situations, they will be saved as missed messages. For a message to come through to your Relay or smartphone app in real-time, both members of the chat need to be on the same chat at the same time.

For Direct Chats, this means that your child’s Relay needs to be on your app’s Direct Chat and your app needs to be on the Direct Chat for your child’s Relay.

For Group Chats, this means that your child’s Relay and your smartphone app both need to be on the same group chat. If anyone else is part of that chat and are tuned in, they will also hear messages in real-time. If they aren’t tuned into that chat, they won’t receive any missed messages.

  • More information about how to talk to different people with Relay

Direct Chats vs Group Chats

Direct Chats are made up of just two people—and they’re automatically set up on your Relay account. When you send a message through Direct Chats and the recipient is not tuned into that same Chat, your message will be saved so they can listen to it later.

Relay comes pre-configured with the Everyone Group chat, which allows you to communicate with everyone on your account, whether they are using a Relay device or the app on their smartphone. Other Group Chats are manually set up and usually contain 3 or more people. If you are not online when someone sends a message to a Group Chat, you will not receive a Missed Message. You will only receive missed messages in your Direct Chats.

  • Learn how to use and navigate your Direct Chats
  • Learn how to add new Group Chats and manage existing ones

Why don’t I receive missed messages for group chats?

Most people have experienced being part of a big group text—we consider group chats similar to that. Getting notification after notification when just a couple members of the group are having a conversation can often be more trouble than it’s worth. That’s why you’ll only receive missed messages when someone is trying to get a hold of you through Direct Chats.

 

 

Step-by-step guide

Here’s where we’ll get into the nuts and bolts of how missed messages work, both on your Relay device and on your smartphone app.

Missed Messages on your Relay

How do I know I have a missed message?

When you have a missed message waiting for you, you’ll see your Relay’s LED ring intermittently flashing green. It will flash every couple of seconds at first, then less frequently over time to save battery life.

How do I check the message?

You don’t have to wait until you see the flashing green light to check for missed messages. Just press the power button once—your Relay will navigate to the correct chat and play the missed message automatically.

To replay the last message on a chat, navigate to the Direct Chat you want with the you can manually navigate chats and channels by hitting the power button or you can press and hold the “volume/assistant” button to issue voice command. Then press the talk button once to replay the most recent message on the Direct Chat.

What if I have missed messages from multiple Direct Chats?

If you have multiple missed messages, you will still see your LED ring flashing green after pressing the power button and listening to your first message. Just press the power button again to listen to the next message.

  • More information about missed messages on your Relay device

Missed messages on your smartphone app

How do I know I have a missed message?

On your smartphone, there are three ways to tell you have missed messages waiting.

  • Push notifications when a message comes in
  • Badge notifications in the app
  • Details in the Direct Chat

First, the relay app will send you a push notification that you can see even when your Relay app is closed. Then, inside the app on the main screen, you’ll see a badge notification on the direct chat which has left you a message. Once you tap on the Direct Chat, you’ll be able to see how many missed messages you have, along with the option to play your messages or mark them as “read.”

How do I check the message?

Just open up your Relay app, tap the Direct Chat with a badge icon, and tap the play button to listen to your messages or replay messages you’ve already listened to.

  • More information about missed messages on the Relay app
  • More information about navigating your Relay app

How will missed messages make your day easier?

Leaving a message on purpose

Sometimes you might want to leave your child a message instead of getting ahold of them in real time—like when you want to give them a reminder for after school. There are two ways to leave a message on purpose.

The “Everyone” method

If you want to leave your child a message, you need to make sure that their Relay device isn’t currently tuned into a Direct Chat with you. A quick way to ensure this is to send a message on the Everyone group chat. You don’t need to speak, just press and hold the talk button briefly. All Relays on your account will automatically switch to the Everyone group chat, leaving you free to leave your child a message via Direct Chats.

The “Power saver” method

When your Relay device is turned off, all Direct Chats will be saved as missed messages. So if your child turns off their Relay while at school, you can send them a message that they can listen to when they turn their Relay back on at the end of the day. This also saves battery!

Quick fixes for common issues

Having issues with missed messages? Check these two quick fixes. If you’re still having trouble, start a chat with our support team right from your Relay app.

Do you have two-person Group Chats?

If you have a manually-created group chat with the same name as a Direct Chat on your account, this can cause issues since missed messages works with Direct Chats but not with group chats.

  • How to manage your group chats

Have you changed the names of any Relays or apps on your account?

If your Relay is giving you a “message expired” notice or you see messages disappearing, try changing the name of the Relay or app in question. It will clear out any old messages and acts as a reset on the chat.

  • How to Change the Name of a Relay

Don’t have Relay yet? Check us out on Amazon or at your local Target store. To learn more, visit us at relaygo.com.

https://blog.relaypro.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/app_header-1.png 300 695 Victoria Seng https://blog.relaypro.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/relay_blog.svg Victoria Seng2019-06-03 13:21:442021-04-02 11:18:15Missed Messages: The Ultimate User Guide
push to talk voice assistant

Relay Assistant: The New Push to Talk Voice Assistant

May 21, 2019/in Relay in Action

In addition to our new SOS and missed messages features, you may have noticed that your Relay device has learned a couple other new tricks this week—let us introduce you to Relay Assistant. 

Now you can give your Relay verbal commands with the press of a button.  It’s super easy to use and makes navigating between features a breeze.

With the Relay Assistant, instead of pressing the power button to cycle through your channels, you have the option to use a simple voice command—we think it’s a real time saver!

How does it work?

Just press and hold the volume button, say your command, then release.  That’s it!

Navigate to chats

Say the name of the chat you wish to speak to, like Everyone, Mom, or Friends to switch directly to that chat. Just remember to use the chat name that’s used in the Relay app—if you say “Joey and Kate” when your chat is named “Friends,” your Relay might get confused.

Navigate to channels

You can also say the name of a channel that you wish to switch to, like Music, Translate, or Daily Joke. As long as the channel is enabled on your Relay through the app, a voice command will take you there quick.

What else can it do?

The voice assistant is a growing feature, so it will be able to do more over time! Here’s what it can do now.

Check the weather

Now your kids can dress for the weather all by themselves. Just press and hold the volume button and say “Weather.” You’ll hear a “ding” sound and your Relay will tell you the current temperature and the day’s forecast for your location.  

Pro Tip: Be sure to enable location so the weather function will work (that way Relay can tell you the right weather!)

Check Relay’s battery level

 Ever wonder if there was a simple way for your kids to check the battery level on their Relay device? Now there is! Just press and hold the volume button and say “Battery” to hear the current battery percentage of your Relay device. 

Check the local time

Now you can send your kids out to play and tell them to be back at a specific time because the time is now available on their Relay device. Just press and hold the volume button and say “Time” to hear the local time for your location.

Want to learn more about Relay’s features? Check out this post. Want a Relay of your own? Shop on Amazon, at RelayGo.com, or find us in a Target store near you.

https://blog.relaypro.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/button-1.png 300 695 Victoria Seng https://blog.relaypro.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/relay_blog.svg Victoria Seng2019-05-21 13:38:542021-04-02 11:18:23Relay Assistant: The New Push to Talk Voice Assistant
A Relay employee explains new features

Our Biggest Update Yet: Setting the Safety Standard

May 16, 2019/in Relay in Action

You asked, and here they are – new app updates designed to keep kids safe and parents informed. Thank you for making Relay even better!

Never miss a message

Miss a Direct Chat message? No problem. Now you can listen to those messages on your Relay, or on the smartphone app.

Messages on your Relay

A missed message notification on a Relay is signaled by a green LED ring

When someone leaves you a message on your Relay, you will hear a doorbell tone your LED light ring will flash green.

Press the power button to jump to the Direct Chat and listen to all of the messages. If you press the talk button, you can replay the last message from that Direct Chat.

Get more info here.

 

 

 

 

Messages on your smartphone

The Relay app shows how many direct chats you missed so you can catch up on messages

In the Relay app, a pink dot appears over the Direct Chat that has left you a message.

After selecting the Direct Chat, you can view the number of messages you have. Tap the talk button to play all of the messages or mark all as read.

Get more info here.

 

 

 

 

In case of emergency…

Relay’s new SOS feature makes sure that if your child needs help, you don’t miss the alert.

 

How to activate SOS

After enabling the SOS feature, just push the talk button 5 times. Then, when Relay asks if you’d like to send an SOS alert, hold the talk button down for 1 second. Done!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Receiving an SOS alert

When your child sends an SOS alert, you will hear a special alert and receive immediate location data from the Relay sending the alert. You’ll get continuous location updates until you resolve the SOS.

Resolving the SOS alert

During the SOS, all Relays and Relay apps on your account will automatically switch to the “Everyone” channel to make communication easier. Tap the “RESOLVE” button in the app to cancel the SOS alert.

Get more info about the SOS feature here.

 

The Relay app got a new look and feel.

With Direct Chats, you can now talk one-on-one with anyone on the account.  This makes communication even easier. In the smartphone app, you’ll see icons for all the Relays and smartphones on your account. To start a Direct Chat, just tap an icon and start chatting!

On Relay, just press the power button to cycle through to get to the Direct Chat.  

Quick Tip: press and hold the volume button, say the name of the Relay or channel that you want to switch to.  This will take you directly to the Direct Chat or channel rather than having to cycle through all of the ones available.  So easy!

Get more info on Direct Chats here.

What else can Relay do?

Try holding down the volume button and saying “weather.” Relay will tell you your local forecast — and that’s just the beginning for Relay voice commands. Stay tuned for future updates. Check out this post for a full list of features, plus how they work.

Not a member yet? There’s never been a better time to get a Relay. Shop on Amazon, find Relay in Target stores near you, or pick yours up at relaygo.com.

https://blog.relaypro.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/My-Post-2-1.png 300 695 Victoria Seng https://blog.relaypro.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/relay_blog.svg Victoria Seng2019-05-16 11:28:282021-04-02 11:18:28Our Biggest Update Yet: Setting the Safety Standard

Top-Requested Features Coming Spring 2019

March 22, 2019/in Relay in Action

Your ideas are coming to life this spring. We’ve listened as families using Relay have shared their experiences and let us know about features that would make Relay even more useful as a communication tool, family GPS tracker, and more—and we’ve been working to make them happen. Now they’re almost ready. Here’s a sneak peek into what you can expect.

Coming this Spring:

sos, direct chat, message history

Get SOS emergency alerts

This feature allows your child to send an emergency notification from their Relay to your smartphone. Along with the notification, you’ll also get a live update of their location so you can make sure they’re safe.

Listen to message history

Never miss a message. With this highly requested feature, you and your child will be able to listen to messages right as they arrive or hear them later with the press of a button. 

One-on-one chats made easy

The Relay app is getting a makeover! In the new app, direct chats will be set up automatically so you can easily reach everyone on your account without manually setting up channels or talking to the whole group.

Coming soon:

geofencing, app only accounts

App-Only Accounts

This will allow for someone without a Relay to create an account and communicate with Relay users by receiving an invitation from the account owner. It’s perfect for grandparents, cousins, and co-parents to stay connected with their families.

Geofencing

Take your kid tracker game to the next level. With geofencing technology, you’ll know when your child is leaving or entering a specific location area by receiving smart alerts that you have set up—without checking your Relay app every minute.

 

And we’re nowhere near finished! We will continue to offer additional improvements through our software updates, so make sure you’re the first to know about new features by tuning into our email updates. You can sign up below.

 

Shop Relay

https://blog.relaypro.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/big-news.jpg 300 877 Victoria Seng https://blog.relaypro.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/relay_blog.svg Victoria Seng2019-03-22 13:54:562021-04-02 11:19:51Top-Requested Features Coming Spring 2019
soccer player with relay

Relay: The Best Solution for Sports Team Communication

March 14, 2019/in Relay in Action

We love being a part of our community — and in Raleigh, NC we’ve been able to use Relay to help solve problems by giving the gift of safe, secure, and easy to use communication. We’ve found that Relay really shines in youth sports — where durability really matters and kids cell phone watches become limiting for team communication (not to mention cumbersome to use.) For example, take our partner NCFC Youth.

Relay is a fan of NCFC from Relay on Vimeo.

Check out this NCFC Youth exclusive offer for 10% off Relay!

“We believe it’s important to teach the girls about communication, and Relay has helped us to do that. The girls need to understand they can’t chat without thinking about how it will affect someone else that may be listening. Relay opens the door to teaching them about the value, and consequences, of verbal communication.” -NCFC parent

Team building activities for kids, featuring Relay

We love coming out to soccer games and meeting these active kids and their parents! And when talking to parents, we realized they had a problem we could solve: the kids didn’t have a good way to talk to each other when they weren’t at practice. Since a significant part of team building and deepening friendships happens off the field, we wanted to see if Relay could keep their teams and their families connected.

“One of the parents set up a group chat for the team. It has been fun to listen to the girls chat amongst themselves, everything from coordinating tournament day gear to where they’ll eat after the game.” -NCFC Parent

With the launch of our cross-account chat feature in December 2018, we were eager to see what kids and parents had to say now that they could talk to friends and teammates as well as parents and siblings. With the help of our friends at NCFC Youth, we were able to give a whole team of 9-10 yr old girls their very own Relays—and the response has been one of overwhelming fun! Have questions about Relay? Check out our FAQ page!

And it’s not just for kids — try the free app for parents

Don’t worry, you don’t have to buy a Relay for every member of the family to communicate. The Relay app is totally free and available for your iPhone or Android. Use the in-app walkie talkie function to contact your kid after practice, and get on-demand GPS updates so you know exactly where they are.

“We loved Relay so much, we bought a second one for my older son. Now we can reach both kids no matter where they are in the soccer complex.” -NCFC Parent

Through the Relay app, parents can set up family chat channels, chats for friends, and even chat channels to keep up with grandparents, cousins, and extended family. Plus, download music for those long tournament drives so everyone to listen to their favorite tracks. Get more info about all of our fun and kid-friendly channels here!

soccer player with relay

Making Relay even better for active families

One amazing gift NCFC has given us is real life feedback about how Relay works for their families. These parents and kids have real feedback, which we’re taking back to our product team to keep Relay getting better! Things like:

  • 5 channels isn’t enough to customize chat groups and use all the features

Done and done. Relay now has 25 fully customizable channels for group chat, 1:1 chat, and a host of fun features. And all features are set up and approved by parents, so you always know your child is safe.

  • Leaving a message for later

Stay tuned for a new feature that lets you leave your child a message. Soon you’ll be able to reach your child even when Relay has to stay on the bench during practice. Ready to get a Relay for your family? Check out this NCFC Youth exclusive offer!

https://blog.relaypro.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/soccer-header2-1.jpg 300 695 Victoria Seng https://blog.relaypro.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/relay_blog.svg Victoria Seng2019-03-14 16:44:542021-04-02 11:20:04Relay: The Best Solution for Sports Team Communication
slate colored relay with a unicorn sticker next to a doki watch

Head-to-head: Relay vs Doki Watch Reviews

January 23, 2019/in Relay in Action

So you want to stay in touch with your kid after school and while they’re out playing with friends—but you’d be crazy to hand them a $500+ smartphone at this age, right?

These days, there are plenty of options out there. And to help you find the best kids smartphone alternative for your family, we’re putting these options head-to-head in a series of reviews.

To start, let’s take a look at Relay versus the DokiWatch S:

relay and doki watch side-by-side

Relay DokiWatch S
  • $49.99
  • $9.99 per month
  • 4G LTE + WiFi
  • Talk to parents and friends
  • Closed network
  • GPS tracking
  • Screen-free
  • Music, language translation + more
  • $199
  • $10-$50 per month
  • 3G + WiFi
  • Talk to parents and friends
  • Closed network
  • GPS tracking
  • 1.22 inch screen
  • Fitness and chore alert features

Relay is a smarter phone for kids. It’s screen-free and has all the essentials to keep you in touch and keep tabs on your little one. And you can add a host of fun, free features that make play even more fun.

The DokiWatch S is a smartwatch for kids that boasts video calling in addition to voice calls and tracking. It also features a pedometer and selfie camera.

Both products come with a free app that parents can use to communicate, monitor GPS, and access parental controls.

The basics — DokiWatch S

the doki watchThe DokiWatch S operates a little differently from what you might expect in a smartwatch or smartphone. It features three buttons: a red SOS button on the left side, a power button on the right side, and a handy “back” button also on the right (where you might expect a volume button to be located) to help kids return to the main menu of the device.

We found that with light use, the battery lasts about a day, but not much longer, and that when the watch enters a power-saving mode (less than 20% battery left), the watch stops functioning. Parents receive a notification via the app when their kids’ battery is running low. Also, the watch’s 1.22 inch touchscreen doesn’t respond to every tap—especially during setup when typing or checking small boxes.

We had a couple of other minor issues with the DokiWatch S. Its 2 megapixel camera is a bit fuzzy. The pedometer seems to be very sensitive, overcounting steps by a wide margin. And after a few weeks of very light use, our DokiWatch’s screen began to detach from the plastic watch band. The touchscreen was still functional, but the watch didn’t seem durable.

The basics — Relay

brick red relay with loop case and lanyardRelay also works differently from the traditional smartphone/smartwatch model. With no screen, there are no menu mazes to navigate. You simply press the channel button to cycle through the features until you reach the one you want. The Relay announces each channel as it is activated, and a different color light ring appears around the big talk button in its center.

Relay features live voice communication, and you push one button to talk, kind of like an old-school walkie talkie. With light to moderate use, Relay’s battery will last multiple days. On the app, parents receive low-battery notifications, and can view the charge level on their kids’ Relays. As with the DokiWatch, it comes with a magnetic charging cable that’s much easier for kids to use than a USB charger.

If you are attached to the idea of a wearable—or worry that your kid might lose any tech that isn’t literally attached to their body—Relay offers a loop case accessory that lets kids clip Relay to a belt loop, a backpack, or wear it around their neck with a lanyard.

Relay DokiWatch S
Screen No Yes
Camera No Yes
Magnetic charging Yes Yes
Battery life 2+ days 1+ days
Water resistant Yes Yes
Durability High Low-Med

Features for safety, features for fun

The DokiWatch S and Relay share a few features in common, like GPS tracking, voice communication, and the ability to connect with a secure network of friends. While neither device calls 911, kids can send parents a special notification on both devices; by holding down he SOS button on DokiWatch, and by holding down the channel and volume buttons on Relay.

The DokiWatch comes with all features enabled by default.  Parents can restrict access to all features except GPS and SOS through the app with the “class mode” feature. Relay works a little differently, with fine-tuned parental controls. Parents can choose whether to allow their kids to talk to friends, either through permanent channels or through a temporary chat channel set up by bumping two Relays together. Parents can control all available features and customize their kid’s experience, adding features as they kids get older.

One DokiWatch standout feature is the voice memo messages you can send back and forth to your child. The sound quality is good, and it’s a nice way to communicate non-urgent messages. Relay has a similar feature in the works. Kids can’t text with the DokiWatch, but they can use emojis and cute monster stickers with little messages like “call me” and “I ♥ mom” attached.

Where DokiWatch focuses more on “extra” features that appeal to parents, like a pedometer for fitness and a parent-controlled task list, Relay makes sure there are also features that kids want to use. Why is this important? In addition to keeping kids entertained, fun features ensure that kids actually want to keep their device with them―making it something they’re happy to carry instead of something they’re made to carry by their parent.

Parents can add a playlist of their kids’ favorite tunes in a variety of file formats, so Relay kids can get their jams on the go. Relay can also translate 13 languages, tell new jokes every day, and promises more fun features to come.*in select plans; price varies based on carrier, plan, number of devices on account, etc.

Features for Parents Features for kids
Relay DokiWatch S Relay DokiWatch S
Calls Yes Yes* Talk to friends Yes Yes
GPS tracking Yes Yes Music playlists Yes No
Geofencing Coming soon Yes Silly Sounds Yes No
Parental feature control Yes No Language translation Yes No
Chore alerts No Yes Joke of the day Yes No
Pedometer No Yes Texting No No
New feature updates Yes No Fun Colors Yes, 5 colors Yes, 3 colors

And finally, the price

Relay is $49.99 and has a simple prepaid monthly plan for $9.99/month. That’s it, no caveats or small print.

The DokiWatch S costs are a little more complicated. The watch itself is $199. For service, you can either pay $80 for a year of data-only service using their advertised TATA SIM card, or you can add the device to your AT&T (or AT&T reseller) plan for $10-$50+ per month.

If you want the affordable TATA SIM, you can use VoIP calling to communicate, but not the “voice call” option. Workable, but possibly confusing for kids who see the phone icon and tap it thinking they can talk to mom and dad. We didn’t get to test any calling features firsthand, as our watch was unable to make any kind of call using the TATA SIM. As video calling is Doki’s main selling point, that is more than a little disappointing.

Relay DokiWatch S
Device $49.99 $199
Monthly Service $9.99 $10-$50+
Extra Fees None None
Contracts None None

So which is the best choice?

That depends on you. Every family has unique needs. While we can offer no one-size-fits-all solution, we hope you find the one that’s best for you. If you have questions about Relay, we’re happy to help! Just click the chat button on our website to talk to our team.

Learn more about Relay

Explore similar topics

Post edited 02/26/19 to update information

https://blog.relaypro.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/dvr2-1.jpg 300 695 Victoria Seng https://blog.relaypro.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/relay_blog.svg Victoria Seng2019-01-23 19:55:382021-04-02 11:21:06Head-to-head: Relay vs Doki Watch Reviews

Get to Know Relay: Channels

December 11, 2018/in Relay in Action

Channels are like apps for your Relay. You can turn them on and off whenever you want and you can customize each Relay with the ones you want to use. Here, you’ll find a list of all Relay’s channels and see how they work.

Chat: Talk to friends and family

Everyone channel

By default, your Relay will send messages to everyone on your account, including your Relay app. When you are on the Relay channel, push the talk button to communicate with everyone on your account. Unlike a traditional walkie-talkie, your account is private and no one else can join or listen.

Custom Channels

You can setup new chat channels in the Relay app, one for mom and dad, one for the kids, and any other combination you want. Find out how to create and manage your custom channels below.

  • How to create new channels
  • How to manage your channels

Direct Chats

Direct chats let you talk one-on-one with anyone on you account. A Direct Chat is automatically set up between all Relay devices and apps on your account to make communication faster. As well, if you miss a message in Direct Chat, you can listen to it later.

  • How to use Direct Chats 
  • Listening to missed messages on your Relay device
  • Listening to missed messages on your Relay app

Open Chat

Do your kid’s friends have Relays? They can still chat, even if they’re far away. Relay account owners can send invitations through the app so the kids can chat, even on different accounts. See how to use Open chat here.

  • How to send an Open chat Invitation
  • How to accept an Open Chat invitation

Instant Chat

Want to create a temporary chat channel? Just switch to the Instant Chat channel, bump two Relays together, and they’ll be able to chat—even if they’re on different accounts! It’s great for playdates and the channel goes away once the Relay switches to a different channel.

SOS alert icon

SOS: If your child needs help, you won’t miss the alert.

Sending an SOS alert is as simple as pressing the talk button 5 times. Once a child does that, every parent connected to that child’s Relay through the app receives a special alert―as well as constant location updates.

Once an SOS alert is sent, all connected adults are notified, and can respond quickly. Both you and your child can feel safe, and secure!

  • How to enable SOS alerts for Relay
  • How to send and resolve an SOS alert

 

Music: listen to your favorite tunes

Add your child’s favorite songs directly to the Relay so they can listen on the go, either out loud or with headphones. They can play, pause, shuffle, and skip tracks with the press of a button, and most file formats are supported.

  • How to use the Music Channel

Translate: learn something new

Let your kids learn something new with the translate channel! Speak in one language and hear it translated into another. We support 13 languages and counting. You can use your Relay app to setup language translation on each of your Relays, changing which languages it can speak. See how to use the translate channel here.

  • How to use the Translate Channel

Daily Joke: kid-friendly laughs

Get new, funny content every day, and listen to the previous days’ jokes! All you have to do is enable the channel through your Relay app. Jokes are appropriate for kids of all ages.

  • How to use Daily Jokes

Echo: silly sounds on demand

This silly channel is enabled on your Relays by default. Just turn to the echo channel, tap the talk button, and her your words repeated back to you in a high-pitched or low-pitched voice. Learn more about this channel here.

  • How to use the echo channel

More channels in the works

We’re always looking for new ways to make Relay convenient for your family and fun for your kids. That’s why we are always working on new features and ways to make our existing features even better. Check back here for a list of up-to-date channels, and sign up if you want to be the first to know about new features!

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  Want more info on Channels? Check out these articles!

  • How to change channels on a Relay
  • How to enable channels on a Relay
  • How to send a channel alert

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https://blog.relaypro.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/cshero.png 300 695 Victoria Seng https://blog.relaypro.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/relay_blog.svg Victoria Seng2018-12-11 14:12:442021-04-02 11:21:35Get to Know Relay: Channels
ryan's family reviews relay

Ryan’s Family Review: Holiday Pretend Play with Relay

December 10, 2018/in Relay in Action

Keep your family together this season with the smartphone alternative that doesn’t distract from playtime fun. See how Ryan from Ryan Toys Review likes it as his mom guides him through a holiday maze full of hidden presents!

The gift that keeps family connected

“I think it’s a perfect present for Ryan and a perfect present for mommy and daddy too, because mommy and daddy can talk to each other and we can talk to you wherever you are. That is so cool!”

Not only can mom and dad talk to the kids using Relays of their own, they can simply use the Relay app on their smartphones to send and receive messages! And bonus: if your kid’s friends have Relays, parents can set up Open Chat channels so the kids can talk, even on different accounts!

Make pretend play adventures even better

“Parents, using the Relay you can talk to your kids anywhere at any time and know exactly where they are. And they will love the independence it gives them and make their playtime even better—all without giving them an addictive screen.”

Using the app, you can locate your kids with GPS. That means they can go farther, getting the independence that a smartphone would bring—but without the screen, the apps, or the internet. Just communication with the people that matter and Kidsafe® features like music playlists, daily jokes, and fun voice-changing features.

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https://blog.relaypro.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/ryans-family.png 300 695 Victoria Seng https://blog.relaypro.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/relay_blog.svg Victoria Seng2018-12-10 15:13:382021-04-02 11:21:41Ryan’s Family Review: Holiday Pretend Play with Relay
relay open chat feature

Open Chat: Relay is Better with Friends, So Get Chatting!

November 30, 2018/in Relay in Action

Relay keeps people connected. It connects families, letting parents keep track of kids. It lets kids find freedom without being exposed to smartphones before they’re ready. But Relay is also fun for kids—that’s what sets it apart from the trackers and boring kids phones out there.

And now Relay is keeping kids connected to their friends. If kids needed another reason to love Relay, to want to carry it with them on their playtime adventures, this is it.

We’re proud to announce Open Chat

Friends deserve channels of their own. With Open Chat, you can connect your Relay or app with any Relay user on any account. You can always be just a button-press away from a great conversation.

Imagine the possibilities:

  • An easy, safe way for our kids to talk to their best friends
  • The best way to keep in touch with big groups
  • Talk to fellow parents without the hassle of dialing and texting

Using Open Chat is easy

When you create a custom channel in your Relay app, you will now have the option to invite Relays from other accounts! You can share your invite code through text, email, or however is convenient for you. The invitee simply opens the link and gets the option to accept the invitation in their Relay app. 

More fun for kids

No longer just a way to call home, a way to listen to music, or a way to play silly games—Relay can be instrumental to play in a whole new way. From planning playdates to chatting over holiday vacations, Open Chat lets kids maintain and grow their friendships while keeping them safe from social media, texting, and other less personal ways of keeping in touch. If your kid’s friends don’t have Relays yet, now is the perfect time to share your referral code—give a free month of service and get awesome prizes! 

Plus even more screen-free features

Open Chat is just one more way we are taking Relay to the next level with kid-friendly, highly customizable features that kids love. We’re constantly adding new features to the channel store and improving the ones we’ve got. Here’s what’s new this week:

Joke of the day

What do you call a channel with frequent, fresh, and funny new content? We’re calling it Joke of the Day. You can hear the day’s new material or go back and listen to your old favorites to show your friends. Just tap the talk button for laughs! 

More languages to learn

Our Spanish language translator has some new friends—now you can choose from 13 languages in the Translate channel. In your Relay app, pick two languages per Relay to hear translations. For example, if you pick Portuguese and English, your Relay will translate English into Portuguese and Portuguese into English! You can change languages any time through the Relay app.

Be a part of Relay’s new features

We want to bring new features to Relay, especially features that make life easier for our members. And nobody knows our members better than they know themselves—we want to hear your ideas! Let us know what kinds of features you’d like to see in the future by posting in the Relay Neighborhood. Other users can vote on ideas, discuss how they use Relay, and your idea will be seen by the Relay team, guaranteed.

 

See all Relay features

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