Frequently asked questions

Who is Gammy for?

Gammy is for kids getting a simple first phone, seniors who benefit from bigger controls, people who want a keypad-first phone instead of buying a separate flip phone, and the parents and caregivers who set a phone up for someone else.

Is Gammy a separate dumb phone?

No. Gammy is software for Android phones. The idea is to make an existing smartphone feel like a simpler keypad-first phone before buying another device.

What phones does Gammy work on?

Gammy runs on Android phones (Android 8 and newer). It is tested most heavily on recent Motorola devices like the Moto G. It is software for a normal Android phone, not a separate device, and is designed to become the simple home screen.

Is it a touchscreen phone or a button phone?

Both, in a sense: the phone is a touchscreen, but Gammy puts a large on-screen keypad - D-pad, number keys, green CALL, red END - on every screen. Navigation works through those big buttons, not swipes or hidden gestures.

What are the three Gammy modes?

Gammy Focus, Gammy Full, and Gammy Managed are separate apps. Focus is normal app behavior for a primary phone, Full is launcher behavior for a primary phone, and Managed is kiosk behavior for a dedicated care-receiver phone.

Can Gammy simplify an app-heavy phone?

Yes. Gammy replaces the normal app-heavy home screen with a streamlined phone surface for calls, texts, trusted contacts, and practical tools. It is meant for people who want less app sprawl while keeping the useful parts of a smartphone.

How does this help with e-waste?

Gammy helps people reuse Android phones they already own or can buy secondhand, instead of purchasing a separate minimalist device. It does not eliminate e-waste by itself, but it is designed around reuse before replacement.

Can a caregiver set it up for someone else?

Yes. A trusted caregiver can set up contacts, emergency behavior, permissions, Wi-Fi, Android-owned Bluetooth settings, and protected options. For dedicated caregiver-managed phones, use Gammy Managed. Gammy is not a replacement for supervision, carrier controls, or device-level safety settings.

Can Gammy be a kid's first phone?

Yes. Gammy gives a child calls and texts without an app store, social feeds, or endless scroll. A parent sets it up and locks settings behind an admin PIN. Gammy Managed starts with calls and texts limited to trusted contacts; Location Tools, streaming radio, and the complete Bible library start off. A parent can enable those optional tools later from the protected dashboard. Gammy is not a replacement for parental supervision, carrier controls, or device-level safety settings.

Can a caregiver help update setup items?

When enabled for a managed phone, a trusted caregiver can use PIN-protected setup tools to update setup items such as the medication list. The feature is for agreed caregiver/admin setup, not monitoring.

Can the user get stuck or break something?

Design rule: no dead ends. Every screen has an obvious forward, back, or cancel. Settings that could cause trouble can live behind an admin PIN. Stronger lock behavior belongs to the dedicated Gammy Managed setup, while Gammy Focus and Gammy Full keep the Leave Gammy path visible.

Why does Gammy ask for so many permissions?

Gammy replaces the home screen, phone app, and messaging app, so Android requires permissions for the visible features that are enabled: phone, SMS, contacts, notifications, alarms, calendar, camera, microphone, Wi-Fi, and optional foreground location tools. Gammy Managed delegates Bluetooth setup to Android and does not request Bluetooth scan or Nearby Devices permission. The privacy policy Terms and refunds explains each category.

Is user data collected or sold?

Gammy does not sell personal data. The launcher editions are local-first, but enabled or user-chosen features such as carrier calls and messages, Weather, navigation, and video handoffs can send the data needed for that feature off the phone. Gammy Family is server-backed and collects the caregiver account, household, setup, and support records needed to provide its service. The launch builds contain no ads or enabled analytics. See the privacy policy Terms and refunds for the exact data and providers.

Does it need the internet?

Launcher essentials such as contacts, alarms, local audio, and Beau's typed fallback can work on the phone, while ordinary calls and texts use the carrier. Weather, streaming radio, navigation handoffs, and other connected services need Wi-Fi or mobile data. Gammy Family also needs internet access for caregiver sign-in and household service, plus any enabled connected status, messaging, or video-call features.

What is Beau?

Beau is Gammy's built-in voice helper. Press a button, speak a request like "call Mary" or "set an alarm for 7," and Beau confirms before acting. It works on the phone itself and also accepts typed input on the keypad.

What does the SOS button do?

It starts a short, clearly visible countdown, then calls the emergency contact the caregiver chose and sends them a text. It can fall back to local emergency services if configured. It is a convenience feature, not a guaranteed emergency-response or medical monitoring service.

Is Gammy a medical app?

No. Gammy can show medication routine items and notes entered from existing care instructions, but it does not provide medical advice, dose recommendations, clinical monitoring, medication-adherence monitoring, or guaranteed emergency response. Medical questions should go to a qualified healthcare professional.

Are the connected Family and Managed features publicly available?

No. Gammy Family and Gammy Managed version 5 are in Internal Testing only and have not been promoted to Production. The current Production apps do not support paired connected status, Family video calling, push alerts, or caregiver remote actions. Family Premium is not publicly purchasable yet.

How much does Gammy cost?

Gammy Focus and the Gammy T9 Keyboard are free. Gammy Full has a planned $39 one-time price for the current major version. Gammy Managed has a planned $99 one-time price and includes everything in Gammy Full. Family Premium has a planned $7.99 per month launch price through Google Play. A human setup service has a planned $49 one-time price. Core safety features — calling, texting, and SOS — stay free and working in every edition and every billing state.

Paid website checkout for Gammy Full, Gammy Managed, and the Setup Service is not currently enabled. Family Premium is not publicly purchasable yet. There are no public app downloads on this site. Email admin@gammystudios.com with questions about future availability.

How do I get help?

Email admin@gammystudios.com or visit the support page.