Tech entrepreneur builds a “Landline” to escape screentime — and it just made $120,000 in 72 hours

Cat Goetze, known online as CatGPT, developed the retro-inspired device after seeking a low-tech alternative to constant smartphone use. “It’d be so cute if we still had landline phones and you could twirl the cord and talk with your friends,” she told CNBC, adding that the idea felt “nostalgic and chic.”

Goetze said she modified a traditional landline handset to make it Bluetooth-compatible. After using the prototype for two years, she introduced it to her social media audience in July.

Expecting only 15–20 pre-orders, she set up an online store to assemble the devices herself. Instead, her project — named Physical Phones — recorded more than $120,000 in sales in 72 hours, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It. By the end of October, Goetze had sold 3,000 units, generating $280,000 in total revenue.

“It felt like we had captured lightning in a bottle,” she said.

Priced between $90 and $110, the devices are expected to begin shipping in December. The handset pairs with both iPhone and Android devices via Bluetooth and can receive standard calls as well as audio or video calls from apps including WhatsApp, FaceTime, Instagram and Snapchat. Outbound calls can be made by dialling a number or pressing the star (*) key to activate a phone’s voice assistant.

Goetze said rising interest in reducing screen time and digital dependence is driving demand. “Our attention spans are shorter. We feel more anxious. We’re less present and unable to enjoy our lives. We’re going through a total loneliness epidemic,” she told CNBC.