When my oldest two kids were tweens, it seemed like the average age of first-cell-phone was about 10 in their social circles.

I didn't want to do that, but not being able to text also amounted to social exclusion, so I got them each a jmp.chat line and they could send and receive texts from the family computer.

Haven't had to do it for my youngest kid yet as the age that her friends are getting cell phones is much older (she's in 7th and less than half of her friends have a phone on them at all times -- though many have a phone to take when they e.g. go on bike rides).

Same here. Very few kids in my sons middle school class have gotten phones, most of his friends have not. Makes it a lot easier when they’re not a lone. I also see drastically fewer kids (and adults) on devices in restaurants which is encouraging.