Jitterbug: Prepaid Emergency Phone for the Elderly

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/