Cell Phones and Senior Citizens: Kinder, Gentler Cell Phones
Ask just about any senior citizen why they don’t have a cell phone and the main reason is that the carriers simply cater to the younger generation and a senior citizen simply wants a simple handset.
This topic is one that is a very emotional one for some people. There really seems that a large number of people that aren’t having their needs met by their wireless provider. This list includes many people including:
• The disabled
• Senior citizens
A lot of the factors really carry a shared responsibility for these problems of increased complexity. The market for simply voice calls has become very stagnate so cell phone manufacturers and carriers have been looking towards phones that push the data and email capability.
The manufactures have really been in a race to try to come up with the newest features which all require there to be additional buttons on the phone and as that is going on the screens are shrinking and the mobile phones are shrinking too.
The market is really plagued with advertisements that cater and pretty much worship the younger market and they really have little to no interest in the customers that want a very no frills handset and a nominal plan to go with it in order to just make the occasional call and hang onto it for an emergency. This market is made up with more than senior citizens but those really are the main part of that market.
One comment that really strikes to the core of the issue came from a Katherine Long. She had the following to say, “Basically, I want to be able to make an emergency call simply and reliably,”
The phones that come from Firefly make a good phone option for the senior citizen. You might say that it is actually one of the best out there.
The handsets from Firefly Mobile have two large buttons which are able to be pre-programmed to call the preset numbers which makes it extremely user friendly to make some quick calls. The one downfall though is the bright casing and the flashing lights. This is something that put a real opportunity to the phone manufactures to provide handsets that are like Firefly without the “flash” and still have the very big and straightforward buttons.
These types of options are perfect for senior citizens, especially those that suffer from:
• Arthritis
• Poor vision
• Cognitive impairment
There are some companies that are really trying but they really just aren’t good enough. With that said there are some options out there and until the market is full of other options the products from Firefly and others will fit the note.
With that said there is definitely a market that is out there for phones of simplicity and the wonders are why cell phone carriers want growth but haven’t taken the opportunity to get into the market of catering to senior citizens and others that could really use phones like talked about.
Let’s hope customers can get what they really want.
Related posts:
- Top Senior Citizen Cell Phones
- Best Cell Phones for Senior Citizens
- Senior Citizens Need Simple Cell Phones
- Senior Value Cell Phones: Affordable Prepaid Cell Phones for Senior Citizens
- Direct Connect Cell Phones for Senior Citizens, the Motorola ic502 Buzz
- Top Senior Cell Phones For 2011
- Cell Phones for Senior Citizens
- Senior Citizens Aren’t Big Cell Phone Users, Even In Emergencies – Yet
- Simple Cell Phones for Senior Citizens
- Free Senior Cell Phones for Those In Need
Tags: cell phones for seniors
April 22nd, 2010 at 1:48 pm
[...] the distributors saying that the target is for the baby boomer and the baby boomer’s parents, the senior citizen. The statement is that the Jitterbug features unparalleled simplicity. The announcement has some [...]
June 14th, 2010 at 5:30 am
With the availability of Just5 phone, the disabled individuals and seniors do not need to worry about having a convenient phone to use. Just5 phone is a cell phone that is designed with a simple and practical make up. This offers a big and large keypad so individuals who have poor vision can use the phone very well. No hassles can be encountered.
Just5 phone is also equipped with relevant features. Most of them are valuable to the older adults. First of all, the phone can serve as an emergency response device through with one press to its emergency S.O.S. button on its back. It can also serve as an alarm to catch the attention of the people around through the loud sound it can produce when the pre-programmed numbers are being dialed. The phone is very easy to use. It has a built-in flashlight that can still work though the phone is off. It also offers F.M. radio to serve as the phone’s basic entertainment.
Just5 is a very lovely phone both the aged and the disabled. There is no doubt to that. The fact that this phone is being offered for only $119.9 without a contract makes it a more viable choice for those individuals.
http://www.just5.com
September 28th, 2010 at 9:06 pm
I actually got my mom a Jitterbug but she hated it. She said it was like a kid’s phone and refused to use it. Last week I got her the new TracFone Senior Value Cell Phone which is specifically designed for seniors. Numbers display quite large on the screen and the buttons are larger than in other phones. So far she likes it because it pretty much looks like a regular phone. She also loves the fact that it’s only going to cost her $7 a month since she vows to only use it on emergency – and that’s good enough for me. So, we’ll see how it goes, but so far, I think we have a winner.
November 4th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
This is the perfect phone and plan that no senior should be without it. The Senior Value Tracfone phone and plan is available at Kmart which is the national distributor. It uses the AT&T provider network so the coverage should be pretty good. The phone itself is user friendly and equipped with some great features. For me the best is the 911 emergency location assistance. This will make a great gift for those special senior members of the family.
February 3rd, 2011 at 8:18 am
I have a friend in Red Level al.36474 that really needs a free cell phone.I’m on safelink but it don’t cover her part of Alabama can anyone tell me where she might get one? She has to travel to the doctor each week about a 100 miles.so she really needs the help!barbaradavis7022@yahoo.com
February 27th, 2011 at 11:02 pm
My grandma has really bad eye sight. I looked for a very long time to try and find a phone that would be suitable for her but none were until I found Tracfone. With there larger numbers and bigger screens, she finds her Tracfone very easy to use and she absolutly loves it..
March 19th, 2011 at 9:26 am
Barbara, any cell phone can dial 911 in emergencies. Also have her try either of these links or you can look for her.
http://www.lifeline.gov
Sprint Nextel Corp.: http://www.sprint.com/lifeline