This 29-year-old brought landline phones back into style and earned $789K by selling them | World News
Interest in older technology has been resurfacing in small but noticeable ways, particularly among younger consumers trying to reduce smartphone use. In Los Angeles, 29-year-old founder Cat Goetze has built a business around that shift. Her company, Physical Phones, sells Bluetooth-enabled landline-style devices that connect to modern smartphones. In 2025, the company recorded more than $789,000 in sales, according to documents reviewed by CNBC. The devices look like traditional home phones but function through a mobile connection. What began as a personal experiment during the pandemic has developed into a small hardware company with thousands of customers across the United States. The growth reflects a wider interest in digital boundaries rather than a full rejection of mobile technology.
Cat Goetze, a 29-year-old entrepreneur earns $789K selling Bluetooth landline phones
Goetze first explored the idea in 2023 while trying to reduce her own screen time. Installing a traditional landline proved costly, with quoted monthly fees around $80. Instead, she began experimenting with ways to connect a classic handset to a smartphone via Bluetooth.At the time, she posted an early prototype online. It attracted little attention. Two years later, after building an audience through her CatGPT brand focused on AI and digital wellbeing, she shared the idea again. The video reached millions across Instagram and TikTok in July 2025. Sales passed $120,000 within three days of launch.The timing appeared to matter. Conversations around digital overload had become more visible. The product landed in that space without trying too hard to define it.
Hardware production brings logistical strain
Physical Phones are produced by a manufacturer in Asia. Goetze has said that working through hardware details was more complex than expected. Each design choice required testing and revisions. The first production cycle took several months to finalise.Tariffs introduced under the Trump administration reduced margins, she noted. Shipping also became a significant cost. To meet December delivery deadlines in 2025, the company chose air freight over sea cargo. The decision cost nearly $74,000 in transport and customs expenses.Around 4,000 orders were prepared and shipped across the United States within a short window. Friends and extended contacts were brought in to help fulfil orders. The process was described as demanding but necessary to meet customer expectations.
Product range and profit reinvestment guide growth
The company now sells three models, including a handset, a wall mounted version and a rotary style phone. Prices range from £90 to £110 equivalent in US dollars. More than 7,500 units have been sold to date.In 2025, the business generated approximately $439,000 in profit. According to CNBC Make It, Goetze reinvests earnings into research, development and staffing. She does not draw a salary from the company and instead supports herself through her media work.A small team manages daily operations, including a recently appointed chief executive. Retail expansion is under consideration, though distribution plans remain unsettled. For now, the phones continue to ring in a market that seems open to quieter forms of connection.
