4 Cellphones for Seniors

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I too am a senior on SS with no other income. Seniors like myself have always had a land line. I still do, but I do feel I need a cell when I am away from home at any time.
We do not want or need menus, number storage, cameras, browser, texting or email.
All we want or need, is to be able to Dial Out, Receive Calls, Large Number Display, and Speaker Phone availability, and those buttons should be inside the case. Nothing on the outside of the cellphone.
Most of us either know our numbers, or carry them with us.
When something like this becomes available, that company will do a big time business as soon as other seniors here of this simple thing we have wanted for years...!!
I checked out "Jitterbug" and that is not for me.
We want, "BASICS", PLEASE.....!!!

Ron Maslouski of IN 9:32AM May 04, 2009

I would like to see a trimode cell phone (the only kind that will work in my area). I only want it for emergencies. It would be turned off except while driving or at home in an extreme emergency. It should have only the basic features, no texting, e-mailing or any extras. AND at an offordable price, My income is only from SS. I am computer savvy (75 yrs old) but can't pay alot for a cell phone plan.

Dorothy Esch of WA 8:11PM April 17, 2009

I have researched the Jitterbug phone and feel that the service that comes with the phone, as well as the features on the phones, make it the best choice for seniors. I mean, seniors don't even have to dial numbers, they can use the Jitterbug operators to do it for them! I read a review about the phone here, http://www.jitterbugseniorcellphones.com/, and that lead me to do some more research. I had been thinking of getting a phone for my grandparents and they hate most phones out there. I will see if they like the Jitterbug phone.

Jitterbug Phones of CA 2:40PM April 07, 2009

My Mom has the Coupe...it's a pain. It's slim such that you can barely hold on to it. All those buttons on the outside only make things worse. She can't remember what they do, color coded or not. Inadvertantly she turns the volume down down down and then off, and can't hear the phone ring. Then when she loses it we can't call it to find it...
If you are targeting older folks, get a person with aging parents to help you design the thing. All we need her to be able to do is to dial out and answer incoming calls. That's it. KISS.

Sue Lange of MO 10:32AM January 28, 2009

For many years I used the T-mobile pre-paid plan. I originally paid about $20 for the phone, and $100 for a years worth of time (about 1,000 minutes) , because that was the best deal for minutes. At the end of the year, I used less than half of my minutes, and ended up rolling over the rest by just buying an additional $10 worth of minutes. I did that for many years, just purchase $10 worth of minutes every year. This is the cheapest plan for someone who doesn't use a cell phone often.

Bill of CA 6:22PM December 21, 2008

To "simple cell phones" wanting them to, "make a bleepin' phone that really rings LOUD. LOUD."
Age or hearing issues are no excuse for bad manners and it is bad manners (rude!!) to have a cell phone ringing (or playing music) so loudly as to annoy others.

I'm Old Too but .... of NV 3:48AM December 08, 2008

here we go with three suggestions for simple cell phones.
1. i'm hearing impared. make a bleepin' phone that really
rings LOUD. LOUD.
2. i have a "clam shell" phone now. it's finish is bright
red and so smooth that it easily/frequently drops from my
and friends pockets. give me a phone with a durable space
age plastic and coarse surface. how easy is that?
3. lose the vibrator function, unless it'll really make the
phone flop around like you've got a gopher in your
pocket.
damn, i'm on a roll...such is the way i hate cell phones..
4. give the phone an on and off switch. not an off
switch that does both functions like a computer.
5. for a simple phone: don't make it a fold over. with a
smooth "clam shell" i cannot tell you how many time's
i've missed a call, because i can't open the damn thing
easily. my clam shell has no real top or bottom and no
real up or down, confusing on the interstate at speed,
just trying to open the damn thing..
6. lastly, make the ring time last longer. (more rings)
before the caller goes into voice mail.

peter of MN 7:12PM November 24, 2008

My Dad is 92 years old and still talks to two of his friends every few days that were in his wedding almost 70 years ago. He was without his phone for a few days and said he felt like he was on a boat without a paddle!! It was then I realized how important his phone is to him. It keeps him young and he has awesome hearing still and quite an inspiration to us all. I make sure we keep his phone charged at all times. He connects all over the U.S. with many friends & family daily. I believe this helps all seniors to combat loneliness. I recommend highly to give all seniors cell phones.

Sarah Zaloumis of CA 2:54AM August 12, 2008

I hope someone with a heart will take the time to read my questions and help me. I am a 63 year old woman with a husband who is seriously ill. IT IS IMPERATIVE that I have a cell phone that I can HEAR as well as see who is calling me. There have been two incidents in the past few years where my husband called from his car to my cell phone and I did not hear it and he had chest pains and called 911 to take him to the hospital. He did finally reach me. Last month again, I was out and he could not breath and tried to get me on my cell phone and again, I was not able to hear it and he called a friend who in turn called 911. There are many times he calls and without my glasses on, (like when I am driving), I cannot see the number that is calling and if it was him, I would pull over to the side, but I can't tell who is calling. So you can understand why I need an EXCELLENT cellphone. Especially one that is loud and that has big fonts so I can see who is calling.
Verizon is willing to work with me as I now have an LG VX5400, but they are offering me an LG, a Samsung, a Motorola or a Coupe phone. I am under alot of stress and making these decisions are quite hard for me as I know nothing about phones. I do know that my husband needs a phone with a bluetooth that he uses in his car if he is going out to a doctor or somewhere.
People like you can make the world better for people like me, so please help me know what to look for when I go into the Verizon store. I always wind up with a salesman that just do not understand and I walk away more stressed. PLEASE HELP THIS GRANDMOTHER.
Fran
fran128@comcast.net

fran of NJ 1:48PM August 06, 2008

This is quiet interesting. I have had a cell phone since 1995 and got it so my grandchildren could get ahold of me if they needed as their mother was working i was retired. Now everyone in the family has a cell phone, this one I have now is the 4th phone as it always has new things added. I now have it for my emergencies, if I fall, or if I need help with my laptop. Yes I am 83 years old now have fallen many times with replaced hips now. I take the phone with me to the hospital to keep in touch with family. My frieneds are all gone to a better place I hope. I carry it in my pocket or around my neck. Cell phones are a wonderful invention. Thanks for listening.

ginnie of MO 11:24AM August 04, 2008