Young Entrepreneur's Bluetooth Landline Phones Earn $789K Amid Digital Detox Trend
Interest in older technology has been resurfacing in small but noticeable ways, particularly among younger consumers actively trying to reduce their smartphone usage. In Los Angeles, 29-year-old founder Cat Goetze has successfully built a business around this significant behavioral shift. Her innovative company, Physical Phones, sells Bluetooth-enabled landline-style devices that cleverly connect to modern smartphones through wireless technology.
From Pandemic Experiment to Thriving Business
In 2025, the company recorded more than $789,000 in sales, according to documents thoroughly reviewed by CNBC. The devices maintain the appearance of traditional home phones but function entirely through a mobile connection. What began as a personal experiment during the pandemic has developed into a small hardware company with thousands of customers spread across the United States. This remarkable growth reflects a wider interest in establishing digital boundaries rather than a complete rejection of mobile technology.
Cat Goetze, a 29-year-old entrepreneur, first explored this innovative idea in 2023 while attempting to reduce her own screen time. Installing a traditional landline proved prohibitively costly, with quoted monthly fees reaching approximately $80. Instead, she began experimenting with creative ways to connect a classic handset to a smartphone via Bluetooth technology.
Viral Success and Market Timing
At the time, she posted an early prototype online which attracted minimal attention. Two years later, after building a substantial audience through her CatGPT brand focused on artificial intelligence and digital wellbeing, she shared the concept again. The video reached millions of viewers across Instagram and TikTok platforms in July 2025. Sales skyrocketed, passing $120,000 within just three days of the official product launch.
The timing appeared particularly significant as conversations around digital overload had become increasingly visible across society. The product naturally landed in that cultural space without needing to forcefully define its purpose or market position.
Hardware Production Challenges and Logistics
Physical Phones are currently produced by a manufacturer located in Asia. Goetze has openly stated that working through hardware details proved more complex than initially anticipated. Each design choice required extensive testing and multiple revisions. The first complete production cycle took several months to properly finalize.
Tariffs introduced under the previous Trump administration substantially reduced profit margins, she noted during interviews. Shipping also emerged as a significant operational cost. To meet December delivery deadlines in 2025, the company chose air freight over slower sea cargo options. This strategic decision cost nearly $74,000 in combined transport and customs expenses.
Approximately 4,000 orders were prepared and shipped across the United States within a remarkably short window. Friends and extended contacts were brought in to help fulfill orders efficiently. The entire process was described as demanding but absolutely necessary to meet rising customer expectations.
Product Range and Strategic Reinvestment
The company now sells three distinct models, including a standard handset, a wall-mounted version, and a nostalgic rotary-style phone. Prices range from £90 to £110, equivalent in US dollars. More than 7,500 units have been sold to date, demonstrating strong market acceptance.
In 2025, the business generated approximately $439,000 in profit. According to CNBC Make It reports, Goetze strategically reinvests earnings into research, development, and staffing expansion. She does not draw a personal salary from the company and instead supports herself through her media work and related projects.
A small dedicated team manages daily operations, including a recently appointed chief executive. Retail expansion is under serious consideration, though specific distribution plans remain unsettled. For now, these innovative phones continue to ring in a market that appears increasingly open to quieter, more intentional forms of digital connection.
