Sprint Samsung MPH-M370: Simple and Reliable

The Samsung MPH-M370 from Sprint is one of the newest basic phones to enter the market. We seem to be getting fewer of these phones as the trend continue to swing towards powerful smartphones. But not to worry. Simple phones will always be available as long as there are young teens and seniors. Now back to our featured phone for this post.

Last year, Sprint's Samsung SPH-M360 proved to be a solid cell phone for seniors and this year's MPH-M370 is very similar with a few adjustments and alterations. So it should also be a good choice for seniors, right? Well, let's look at the details of this handset to see if it should be considered as a good option for the elderly.

Let's first look at the overall design. Well, there's no surprise here. It's a simple clamshell phone with a bubbly gray finish for good grip and dimensions that make it a compact phone that is easy to carry. Here are some images to give you a good look at this phone:

The main display of this phone measures 2.4-inches with 320x240-pixel resolution. It's a good size and bright enough for seniors with poor eyesight. It has a small interior screen which provides some key details without the need to open the phone. It shows the time, date, signal strength, and battery life.

A look at the phone's keypad and navigation array will indicate that it's an easy-to-use device. It has rubber keys, which are easy to press and respond will to the user's touch. The buttons are also large and separated so users will not find it hard to find a particular number to press. There are also bumpers, which guides your fingers so one can dial even without looking at the buttons. 

Performance-wise, the Samsung MPH-M370 scored good marks overall. The call quality is good and the speakerphone also performed well.

The main features offered by this mobile phone for seniors also include a 1.3-megapixel camera, an alarm, a calendar, a calculator, address book, 10 preloaded ringtones, Bluetooth support and multimedia text messaging.

Here a few videos to give you another angle on this phone:

Follow this blog if you wish to see more post on the best cell phones for seniors in the market.

Senior Cell Phone Comparison: Tracfone SVC Phone Vs Consumer Cellular Doro PhoneEasy 410

Are you ready for another battle of mobile phones for seniors? A week ago we matched up the Jitterbug J against the Just5. This time we will compare two more excellent phones for the elderly. Here's a comparison of the top senior-friendly features of the Tracfone Senior Value Cellphone and the Doro PhoneEasy 410 from Consumer Cellular.

We will follow the same formats with images and information to let our readers decide. Let's begin with:

Overall Design:

 

Front closed:

Opened:

Displays/ Screens:

The Tracfone SVC phone sports dual displays. The external screen has a resolution of 128 x 128 and the larger internal display measures 1.5 inches with 65K colors. On the other hand, the Doro PhoneEasy 410 features a larger 2 inch LCD display with 176 x 220 pixels.

Keypad/Buttons

Both of these phones have keypad with buttons that are ideal for senior mobile phone users. The SVC Phone comes with over-sized lighted keys while the Consumer Cellular Doro PhoneEasy 410 offers a spacious  keypad with large digits, and the separated keys that are raised above the surface.

Senior-friendly features:

Let me enumerate the features of these phones that can help seniors. Let's begin with the SVC phone:

• Easy menu navigation
• 911 Emergency Location Assistance
• Hearing Aid Compatible

And for the PhoneEasy 410:

• Emergency SOS button 
• Speakerphone
• Hearing aid compatibility: M3 T4

 Price: (reflects price at the time this post was published)

SVC Phone:  $14.99 at KMart (Senior Package) with leather case, car charger, and hands-free headset

Doro PhoneEasy 410: $25.00 after instant rebate, applied at time of purchase.

Cell Phone Plans:

Tracfone SVC:

Doro PhoneEasy 410:

This comparison clearly show that both of this handsets can fit the needs of seniors. The handsets are pretty similar with both offering flip phone designs, simple features, easy navigation, and cheap pre-paid plans. 

We hope that this comparison can help you pick a phone for your needs. 

Stay tuned for more comparisons of cell phones for seniors and other similar topics.

Clarity to Offer the PAL Amplified Mobile Phone for Seniors Soon?

Here's an exciting update that I discovered while exploring some websites that offer devices for senior citizens. I was exploring the Clarity website when I saw an intriguing image. Here it is:

Well, it's clear an ad for an upcoming amplified mobile phone. The image indicates that it will be called the Clarity Pal. I searched the websites press releases for an official announcement for this handset but I found none. I also searched the web and found nothing helpful.

I think it's safe to say that this upcoming cell phone for the elderly will hit the market this year. By the look's of it, it appears to be a worthy successor to the company's LifePhone. But then again, it might not even be a replacement. Perhaps the company plans to offer the Clarity Pal alongside the Clarity C900. That's not a bad plan since it would provide consumers with more options.

The picture indicates that the Clarity Pal will be a device that caters to the need of seniors. It's an amplified phone so it can work for users with hearing problems. The display also shows large fonts so it will also fit the needs of seniors with weak vision. It also appears to have large buttons so dialing is not a problem.

These elements indicate that the Clarity Pal will be a solid option for seniors. Hopefully, an announcement will be released soon so that we will have an idea of its price, features, and specs.

What do you think of this phone? Can it compete with other mobile phones for seniors? Stay tuned for more updates on this device and other phones for the elderly.

Senior Cell Phone Comparison: Jitterbug J VS Just J509

I recently thought of a new format for our blogposts. We have already feature a lot of cell phones for seniors so I have to admit that finding new devices to feature is getting more challenging. So I  thought that it would be interesting to make use of our old features and make comparisons.

I notice that many tech sites are comparison two or more phones against one another. This kinds of articles are often called phone battles, dogfights, or battle royals. So I thought this format would also work for our viewers since its interesting and helpful.

However, I will refrain from making a conclusion as to the winner of the comparison at the end of the post. You, our readers, will be the one's to decide the winner.

OK, enough with the intro and on with the battle. For this post we will compare the Just5 J509 and the Jitterbug J senior cell phones. These handsets are on the forefront of the market for cell phones for the elderly. So let's begin with a comparison of the physical design:

Jitterbug J Vs Just J509

Overall Physical Design: The Jitterbug J is a flip phone while the Just 5 is a bar-style device. Here are some images for comparison.

front:

 

 back:

 

These images should give you an idea on how these devices look like and compare in terms of physical design. The Jitterbug J is available in graphite and red, while the Just5 can be purchased in black, red, white, orange, and gray.

Display/Color Screen: The Jitterbug J comes with dual displays. The internal screen measures 2.1 inches while the external display comes in at 1.1 inch. On the other hand, the Just5 has a monochrome LCD display.

Keypad/Buttons: This is a crucial feature for a cell phone for the elderly because seniors may have weak vision,. User-friendly keypads with large buttons that raised from the surface and separated from one another is ideal. Here are the images for the keypads on these handsets:

Emergency Button: Both of these handsets come with an emergency response system. The Just5 has a large dedicated button to automatically call emergency contacts and the Jitterbug J users can dial “0” anytime to reach a U.S. based, 24-hour operator.

Price: (reflects price at the time this post was published)

Jitterbug J:  $99.00

 Just5 J509: $89.99

Plans:

 

Now before we end this post let me highlight other points that were not directly addressed above. GreatCall, Jitterbug's manufacturer offers apps and services for seniors. We have covered some of them in this blog such as the LiveNurse and Medication Reminder.

OK. So what do you think of our first mobile phone for seniors comparison posts? Do you want more of these? We have plenty of SVC fans among our commenters so I'm sure they want to have their handset featured in an article like this.

Stay tuned for more posts on comparisons, featured phones, plans and other topics connected to senior mobile phone users.

Unpacking the Just5 Cell phone for Seniors

I went over to browse the Just5 website and stumbled upon the packaging section. I thought it would talk about the eco-friendly packaging or the contents of the box for this senior phone. However, I quickly discovered that the section was meant to warn customers about purchasing knock-offs or fake handsets.

I can fully understand why Just5 wanted to educate consumers about buying the real thing. After all, fake handsets can damage their brand and the reputation of their products. Buying the real Just5 cell phone for seniors will ensure quality and support from the company's customer support.

Here are the images of the Just5 packing to help educate consumers on what to look for when buying one from a dealer:

I did more research and found an online video of the unboxing for this phone. Check it out to see what is inside this phone's box:

Hopefully, this video will help you to purchase the real thing. And perhaps it also gave you an idea on what the phone is about.

The Just5 J509 is one of the best handsets for the elderly. It combines ease of operation, large buttons, amplified sound and an emergency button. It is currently offered for $89.99, You can also check out our post on Just5 videos to know more about this device.

That's it for this post. Check us ut every week for more news, and features on the best mobile phones for seniors.

The Cheap and Simple Kyocera k126c from TracFone

Seniors love simple phones because they can cater to all their needs at a low price. Phones like the Kyocera k126c from TracFone can solve the problems of users who simply wants to make a call. Some fancy phones may cost more because it forces one to pay extra for features you may not use. A basic and affordable phone like the k126c will not put a dent on your budget and provide for all you calling needs at the same time.

Let's take a closer look at this cell phone for seniors.

The Kyocera k126c is available at Tracfone, a carrier that specializes in prepaid devices. This types of cell phones are great for the elderly because of their low cost, and basic features. Since, I've mention that this handset is affordable, let us first discuss its price. This phone is currently available for around fifteen bucks. That's the full price so there are no annoying contracts and other fees involved.

This phone sports a basic bar style design with a LCD color display. It's a bit small but the fonts can be adjusted to fit your vision. It also offers a simple navigational system and a simple menu that allows users to make calls quickly. The keypad is also good because the buttons are speared from one another. They also have good size and are raised from the surface of the phone.

This phone also offers some useful features such as Text messaging, hands-free speakerphone, and a hearing aid compatible (HAC) rating M3.

If you wish to purchase the Kyocera k126c, then you should know that Verizon, US Cellular and Alltel networks.

I was unable to find videos for this phone so I'll just post a large picture to help you get a closer look:

Visit us every week for more mobile phones for the elderly and related topics.

Videos of the Samsung SCH-r100 Senior Phone

The Samsung SCH-r100 or Stunt is one of the underrated cell phones for the elderly. It is not as well-known as the Tracfone SVC, Jitterbug J, or Just5 phone but it can also do a great job of serving the needs of seniors.

Well, the Samsung SCH-r100 is good enough to join the vaunted Jitterbug J at the Greatcall cell phone for seniors line-up. It has all the necessary attributes that make it a good phone for folks who are 65 years and older. For instance, it's cheap at just forty bucks and a powerful speakerphone. It's an easy-to-use device that also comes with 24/7 access to friendly who can provide friendly assistance.

We have already featured this phone so let's not dwell on the details. This post is dedicated to videos so we will give some videos of the Samsung SCH-r100. These clips include unboxing videos, reviews, and video tours.

Here they are! Enjoy:

We hope that those videos can help you to find out if this phone fits your needs. Stay tuned as we feature more phones and post more videos for the elderly.

Cheap Senior Phones: Motorola i412 from Boost Mobile

We have not posted a lot of senior phones from Boost Mobile but no one can deny that this prepaid carrier has offered a number of simple phones that can help the elderly. Let's look at one of the affordable phones from this carrier and look at the factors that make it a good device for senior citizens.

The Motorola i412, like most prepaid handsets, is suited for users who want an affordable device with all the basic features. Well, this Boost Mobile phone answers that description. It sports an unremarkable flip phone design with a rectangular look.

The i412 offers an external display that shows useful information without forcing the user to flip it open. The tiny monochrome display shows the battery life, signal strength, plus the date and time. Open the phone and you will see the bigger internal display which measures 1.79-inches. It's a bit small when compared with other elderly friendly mobile phones but there are limits when we talk about cheap devices. The display offers a resolution of 128x160 pixels and 64,000 colors. Users with weak eyesight can adjust the text size to suit their vision.

This handset is easy-to-use and is no challenge even for your grandparents. This phone comes with a basic navigation array with two soft keys, a round toggle, a menu key, and a camera button. The number keypad is also user-friendly because it provides plenty of room and separated buttons, which are raised above the surface.


The i412 is marketed as a "Walkie-Talkie Push to Talk Phone". That means that users can use it like a Walkie-Talkie and allows users to numbers and assign PTT groups.

Now let's talk about how this phone performs. The call quality for this phone is good and users generally heard conversations clearly. The speakerphone calls also had good volume and clarity. This handset has a camera but the VGA-quality results are not impressive.

Here are a video of this phone to help you see how it handles in the wild:

So do you agree that the Motorola i412 from Boost Mobile can be suited for the needs of seniors? This phone is available for a prepaid price of $69.99 and is available with the carrier's monthly unlimited, daily unlimited and pay as you go plans.

That's it for this phone. Stay tuned as we look into more cell phones for seniors and similar topics.

GreatCall Phones, Devices, and Services for Seniors Showcased at CES 2012

Emporia showed off its new cell phones for seniors at the recent CES 2012 show. However, they did not have the monopoly of showcasing senior-friendly products at the show. Not to be outdone, GreatCall also has some exhibits at the show. Let's look at the devices that were unveiled for consumers at the recently concluded event.

GreatCall's exhibit centered around the 5Star Responder. It's not a cell phone though so I won't dwell too long on this gadget. It may not be able to make calls but the responder can be very useful for the elderly. This device provides location tracking, and one-button access to the 5-Star Urgent Response service.

This useful gadget cost $50 up front, and $15/month. It's an option for consumers who want the 5-Star service for emergencies, and not a full phone service from GreatCall.

Here's a video that previews this device:

GreatCall also took advantage of CES 2012 to show off some of its iOS apps for the iPhone. But wait. Do seniors own iPhones? Well, this Apple smartphone is one of the top notched mobile devices with all the fancy features. It's overall design is not suited for the elderly since it has no physical buttons. However, it has an easy-to-use user interface and the large and sharp screen is ideal for seniors with weak eyes.

Of course, we should underestimate the ability of seniors to handle a device like the iPhone. There are some tech-savvy folks who are at the age of 65 or older. And if they can afford this premium device then they should be allowed to enjoy the senior-friendly iOS apps from Great Call.

So what are the mobile apps for seniors that we showcased at the show? Well, we have featured some of them already and they are also available on the Jitterbug J.

There's the 5Star Urgent Response, MedCoach, and Live nurse apps. Take note though that these applications will also be available to Android phone users in the near future.

The Live Nurse app provides basic health info while the Medcoach mobile application is a great pill reminder.

So what do you think of these devices? Is it time for a new Jitterbug phone for seniors?

Emporia Cell Phones for Seniors Showcased at CES 2012

Emporia recently announced that it will expand its business and bring its handsets into North and Latin America. We also looked at two of the company's new senior phones last week.

Well, these handsets were also on display at the CES 2012 event. That's right. The event is not only a place to show off the latest 4G, Android or Windows Phone devices. Simple handsets that are suited for seniors are also shown at the show.

I did a search for hands-on videos of the EmporiaCLICK and EmporiaSolid Plus at CES and managed to find some clips.

Here are a couple of videos featuring the EmporiaCLICK and EmporiaSolid Plus:

If you want to get more looks, then head over to Engadget for some hands-on images. Here are the links:

EmporiaCLICK hands-on gallery
EmporiaSOLID Plus hands-on gallery

And here are some pictures from the CES website:

Stay tuned for reviews and other related topics on these handsets. Until next week. See you for more mobile phones for seniors and other related discussions.