My kids went on about mobile phones from about the age of 9. I said no and no and no. When the eldest got to secondary school and was the only child in her class without a phone (and i didn't take her word for it I checked ) I let my sister give her an old one and I bought her a sim card for 20euro. That was september, she has bought one 10 euro top -up since and hardly uses the thing. Kids want the phones as toys not communication devices, they want the latest camera music player or whatever on the phone. Its just another fashion accessory. Ask the parents first but if they haven't bought one yet I don't think you should be the one to do it. Generally I think they're a bad idea for kids, esp under 12's, they can get lost, stolen, if its the "wrong" phone the kid will get teased and there is nothing worse than a 10 year old (or Younger) sticking a camera phone in you face and asking you to say cheese