The Nabaztag is an ambient, internet-enabled device which is designed to introduce a young audience to web-based social interactions. It connects wirelessly to the internet, allowing users to access a variety of services, ranging from the audio relay of RSS feeds and text based messages, to visual displays of light sequences and ear rotations.

Interaction with the Nabaztag relies upon the manufacturer's website and independently created desktop widgets. In this paper we present the design and analysis of a novel mobile phone widget, which provides a mobile interface to the Nabaztag. The widget provides a mobile solution allowing users to communicate more freely with the target device and ultimately extending user interaction. The results from a preliminary trial with young children using the widget and rabbits to interact with a parent in their workplace highlights the potential benefits of the use of a physical avatar for developing early social-technical experiences.