Lately there have been some very nice offerings catering to the elderly’s need for emergency cell phones. These phones are great and fulfill a very important need for those who normally don’t carry cell phones, or who may be alone 90% of the time. The problem with these new niche phones is that more than not, they are much more expensive for much less than their prepaid brethren.
One phone in particular that is advertised quite frequently is the “Jitterbug”. The “Jitterbug” is a very simple phone available in 2 models with very large keys and a loud speaker for the hearing impaired. One model, the “OneTouch”, has only 3 main buttons. One that will connect you to a jitterbug operator, one customizable, and one that dials 911. This is great for those who don’t need to dial numbers and just need it solely for emergencys. The operator can, of course, connect you to any number you need to dial. Both this model and jitterbug’s other model (which is like the onetouch but with a full keypad) cost $147. The price is a bit ridiculous when you consider you are only getting a $20 phone much like the Virgin Mobile Oystr.
The monthly plans are a bit steep, below you can see their price chart:
| SOS |  |
$10 | |
Pay as you go at $.35 a minute |
| Simple 30 | $15 | 30 | ||
| Simple 60 | $20 | 60 | ||
| Simple 150 | $30 | 150 | ||
| Simple 300 | $40 | 300 |
Note: There is a yearly service plan for $120 at 35 cents a minute, and also a simple plus plan not mentioned here.
As you can see, you pay a whole lot for very little with Jitterbug. A better alternative phone and plan, in my opinion, would be the Virgin Mobile Shorty (Nokia 5300) on an 18 cent a minute, 90 day top up plan. You would get a proven phone, and pay only $20 every 90 days to keep the phone active (assuming it was used mostly for emergencys, though the minutes would be there if they were needed).
The problem with the Nokia, though, is that it is not designed for the elderly even though it is very easy to use. Jitterbugs phones have VERY large and spaced keys, and very easy to read numbers and letters on screen. It is a great phone for the elderly. I’m not sure who manufactures it or if it is made in house by Jitterbug, but it is a shame that more prepaid providers don’t provide phones like this in their normal line up. Jitterbug’s phone is good, their service is overpriced. It’s a shame.
If your still settled on Jitterbug, they do fill a great need and I am sure they do a very good job at it. You can visit their website at http://www.jitterbug.com/
Loading ...
3 comments so far
I brought a Jitterbug-I dropped it twice and then it did not work anymore. Customer service is really crappy!
July 16th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
I have actually encountered iNO CP09 mobile phone, and because it is very much alike to the Just5 phone I purchased to my father, I decided to check out for the reviews about this product. Suring my search, I found out that there are very, very limited reviews that were written about this brand so I really can’t make out if this is truly reliable. Additionally, I found out that this brand does not run a website of its own, so I can’t check more essential facts about this product.
With all of those discoveries, I realized that Just5 phone remains more credible as compared to iNO CP09 mobile phone. Just5 phone runs its own website so I was then sure enough that this one is truly credible. My presumption about the credibility of Just5 phone was further strengthened after learning the awards that have been bagged by this brand. True enough, I never made a wrong choice when I purchased this phone for my father because it never gave him a headache even just once. It’s perfectly functioning!
www.Just5.com
May 17th, 2010 at 9:56 pm
I never owned a Jitterbug yet, and I have never used one yet. However, I decided to purchase Just5 phone instead of this one because my old friends, who have previously owned Jitterbug, does not recommend it at all. Really, their reaction when I told them that I’m planning to get myself a Jitterbug phone was really surprising. In their want to discourage me, they told me the stuffs that they hate about Jitterbug. Some says the company has ill-mannered CSRs, others told me that they are seemingly being ripped off. Of course, I don’t want to deal with those issues so I decided to look for an alternative. And that was the time that I found Just5 phone.
I never knew anyone who already owns a Just5 phone so the only ones I rely one were the reviews that are written about it. They were all compelling so I gave it a try. Believe me; I never experienced any form of annoyance since the time I got this phone. My old fellas, in fact, own Just5 phone this time, too. They love it the way I do!
www.Just5.com
May 17th, 2010 at 9:58 pm
Leave a Reply