Phones for tots...

…keeps popping up in tech news. Probably because of the amazement of journalist/parents that cellphones have replaced "Barbie Dream House" on 9-year-olds' wish lists. But maybe Barbie's just moved down to the 5-to-8-year-old category not yet being targeted by cellphone makers. USATODAY singled Barbie out in this latest report. USATODAY cites numbers in NOP World Technology showing that 40% of US 12-to-14-year-olds had their own phones last December (up from 13% about three years before). The figure is 14% for 10-to-11-year-olds now (maybe the next study will account for younger kids now being targeted). What I didn't cover in my 7/29 item, "Critics of kid phones," is Mattel's brand for preteens, "My Scene."