The Affordable Samsung t259 from T-Mobile

The Samsung Galaxy S II is the talk of the town this week but that is not a device that would work for most seniors. The elderly needs a more modest device that is very good at what it can do: make calls.

Well, let's talk about another Samsung mobile phone with a much lower price and a lot less complicated and fussy features. The Samsung t259 from T-Mobile is a much better fit for seniors because it comes with basic features, a cheap price tag, and solid performance. Let's look at the elements that make it a good mobile phone for senior citizens.

The Samsung t259 sports a classic flip design with dual color displays. The internal screen measures 2.2-inch, which is a good size for seniors who may have weak vision. This display features a 240x320-pixel QVGA resolution that looks appropriately bright and sharp. Seniors will have little problems with this screen because the numbers are large when the user is dialing and one can adjust the size of the font to make it easier on the eyes.

But what about the keypad? The t259 also provides a key pad that is suitable for the elderly. The keys are not fully separated but they are ideal for senior users who want easy-to-see and easy-to-press keys. The navigation buttons for this phone are also user-friendly because they have good size.

Now let's discuss performance where it really matters. How does this device perform when making calls? Reviewers indicate that the handsets performed well on both sides of the lines. The voices from the speaker sound natural and loud. The sound clarity is good and one will not notice any background noise, feedback, or digital distortion.

At the time this article was published, the T-mobile website is offering the t259 for $29.99 with a 2-year contract.
Here are the key features of the Samsung t259:

• speakerphone
• 2-megapixel camera
• MP3 player
• a calendar and alarm clock
• Bluetooth connectivity
• voice commands
• address book
• 19 polyphonic ringtones
• microSD card slot

That's it for this post. Stay tuned for more informative articles on cell phones for seniors and related topics.

Cell Phone Plan for Seniors: Net10 Easy Minutes Plus

We featured a Net10 cell phone recently so I think we should also look at the carriers plans. The plans offered by this company might also be suitable to the needs of elderly users because it specializes in prepaid plans. Let us examine the Easy Minutes Plus plan from Net10.

The Easy Minutes Plus plan provides an affordable monthly option for consumers. For only $15 per month(30 days of service) it provides 200 minutes automatically without any cancellation fees. This can be translated to about 7.5 cents per minute.

Consumers can also choose to pay $30 per month if they want more minutes. For this price, the Easy Minutes Plus plan from Net10 will provide 500 minutes for 30 days of service. This amounts to around 6 cents per minute.

But what about if you run out of minutes in less than 30 days? Well, that's not a problem because subscribers can buy bundles of 50, 100 or 150 minutes at anytime.

So is this a good cell phone plan for seniors? Well, it is cheap at just $15 for 200 minutes. Consumers who use a bit more minutes per month can try the $30 dollar option which provides 500 minutes. The need of seniors are suited to prepaid plans because they are flexible and affordable. I guess it would boil down to coverage and service.

If you have Net10 service in your area then this would be a good option for senior citizens or occasional mobile phone users.


That's for this feature on the Net10 Easy Minutes Plus. Visit us regularly for more posts on cell phones for seniors, plans, services, and accessories.

Cell Phone Plans for Seniors: Just 10 Calling Plan

I featured the GreatCall Basic 19 mobile phone plan for seniors last week so I thought that it would be good to look at another affordable plan for the elderly for this day's post. This time we will look at a plan for users of the Just5 handset, the Just 10 calling plan.

This prepaid plan is one of the most affordable options for seniors. The Just 10 calling plan cost well, just ten bucks. It provides 100 minutes plus 50 text messages for 90 days. If you do the math, that translates to $3.33 per month.

The minutes for this plan good for 90 days and will l expire unless refilled. Any unused remaining minutes will roll over to the new 90-day period if the user refills his or her balance.

Here are the features that are included with this mobile phone plan for senior citizens:

• international direct dial
• voicemail
• call waiting
• call forwarding
• caller ID
• international & domestic SMS
• nationwide long distance
• three-way calling

Is this service reliable? Just5 runs its services through Jolt Mobile so you can read reviews to see how they perform.

Is this a good plan for seniors? Well, it depends on a user's usage rate. A senior user who uses less than 100 minutes and 50 text messages in three months will like this plan. However, if you use a lot more than that then one can look at other options or get this plan and simply refill the minutes as you need it.

That's it for this cell phone plan for seniors. Join as every week as we feature more cell phone plans, services, accessories and mobile phones for seniors.

The Affordable LG100C from Net10

I checked out the line-up of phones from Net10 and was pleased to discovered a number of phones that might be suitable for the needs of senior consumers. Net10 is a minor carrier that specializes in prepaid mobile phones and a flat rate unlimited plan.

We will feature Net10 phones in the future but in this post we will look at the LG100C and its potential as a cell phone for senior citizens. The is one of the most affordable handset's in the company's line-up at only $19.99 . This cheap prize is one of the reasons why I chose it as the first Net10 phone to be featured in this blog.

Now let's look at some design elements for this affordable mobile phone for seniors. The LG100C sports a simple bar style design. It also comes with a basic user interface that any user can navigate without much effort. This is a crucial element since some seniors prefer uncomplicated devices that can get the job done.

The display on this senior-friendly phone is a bit small. It's a color display but the small size might be a hindrance to elderly users who have weak vision. Luckily, the phone's keypad is quite user-friendly. The keypad comes with separate individual buttons so a user will not find it difficult to dial a number or to locate a specific number. The navigation keys for this phone are clearly marked so using the menus are quick and easy.

The other notable features found on the LG100C include the 1000-entry phonebook, voice dialing, voice commands, hearing aid compatibility (M3 Rating), hands free speaker, vibration alert, and text messaging.

Here are some specs and additional info:

• Dimensions: 4.09 x 1.80 x 0.50 (104 x 46 x 13 mm)
• Weight: 2.45 oz (70 g)
• Battery Talk Time Approx. 2.5 hours Standby Time Approx. 10 days
• Included accessories: Battery Wall AC Adapter

That's it for this cheap handset. Stay tuned as we look at more mobile phones for seniors from, the same carrier.

Mobile Phone Plans for Seniors: GreatCall Basic 19

Let's look at another cell phone plan that's ideal for elderly users. This time it comes from the company behind the popular Jitterbug J cell phone for seniors. Great Call does not only specialise in handsets for those who are over 65 because it also offers plans, applications, services and accessories that are designed to cater to the needs of seniors all over the states.

This time let's look at the Basic 19 cell phone plan from GreatCall. This is the beefier version of the GreatCall Basic 14 rate plan that we featured last May. It costs a bit more but it also provides more in the way of minutes.

Here are the details of the GreatCall Basic 19 cell phone plan for seniors:

• 100 Anytime Nationwide Minutes for $ 19.99 per month (Monthly anytime minutes carry over and are available for 60 days)
• one time set up fee of $35
  
• Text Messaging
  
• No Contracts Required
• No Roaming Charges
• No Cancellation Fees
• No Data Charges

This plan also come with the following apps and services:

• Calendar
• PhoneBook
• Daily Health Tips

That pretty much sums it up. It's a simple plan made for the needs of seniors so it direct and basic. I like the carry over minutes feature but I do feel that the set-up cost is a bit high.

Do you think that this is a good cell phone plan for seniors?

Join us again this week as we tackle more plans, services, and cell phones for senior citizens.

The 65 Plus Two-Line Share Plan from Verizon Wireless

Here's a cell phone for senior plan that can be shared between two handsets. The 65 Plus Two-Line Share Plan from Verizon Wireless is an offering that allows users to share minutes between two phones.

It's essentially the same as the Verizon Nationwide 65 Plus but this one can be shared between two separate devices. So what's the advantage of having this plan? Well, it allows one to have two mobile phones on a single plan. This can also be shared between two senior users without the need to sign up for a second plan.

Since this plan can be shared between two lines, it offers more minutes than the Nationwide 65 Plus but it also costs more.

Here are the Voice details for the 65 Plus Two-Line Share Plan from Verizon Wireless:

• Anytime Minutes: 450
• Monthly Access: $59.99
• Line Access: $9.99/Month/Line
• Overage: 45¢/Minute (occur when you exceed your Anytime Minutes)

And here are the messaging details for this mobile phone plans for senior citizens:

This cell phone plan for seniors also provides 1000 night and weekend minutes and no domestic long distance charges.

Do you think that this is a good option for seniors? Let us know via your comments.

That's it for this feature on 65 Plus Two-Line Share Plan from Verizon Wireless. Join as every week as we look at various cell phone plans, services and mobile phones for the elderly.

The Affordable Samsung SGH-T249 from T-Mobile

Here's another affordable phone for those who are looking for a cell phone for seniors. The Samsung SGH-T249 from T-Mobile is a simple and cheap phones that can handle all the tasks that are required by elderly users.

I did say that this is an affordable handset so let's tackle the price first. The SGH-T249 is currently available for $29.99 with a two-year contract. I have to say that there are cheaper handsets out there but if you really want an affordable and simple T-Mobile cell phone then this one is a solid choice.

Now let's move on to the features and characteristics that make this phone a good choice for the elderly. Let's start with the display. At 1.7-inch, the display is a bit small. I fell that a cell phone for senior citizens should have at least a 2 inch display. Fortunately, the 220x176-pixel resolution and 65,000 colors support makes up for the lack in size and produces sharp graphics and bright colors. The dialing font size and color, and the backlighting time can be adjusted depending on the need of the user so even the elderly with weak vision can see the details on the screen.

The simplicity of the Samsung SGH-T249 extends from its basic design to its user interface. The UI is simple and can be changed into either a list or grid style.

But how about the keypad? It's a bit flat but the buttons are separated and the backlight can help users when it comes dialing numbers or composing messages.

The other senior-friendly features provided by this handset include a good speakerphone with strong volume and clarity. It also comes with a 1.3-megapixel camera that can record videos. Not really a required feature for a mobile phone for seniors but it's a nice bonus.

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

The New LG Envoy from US Cellular

US Cellular recently began to sell a basic handset with an affordable price. I looked closer at the LG Envoy to see if it can be a good cell phone for seniors. However, it's a new phone so reliable reviews are hard to find. That means will have to look at the surface to see if this handset can answer the needs of the elderly.

Well, at least the LG Envoy from US Cellular is offered at a good price for senior citizens. The carrier is offering it at a cheap price of $9.99 with a new contract. It is also available as a prepaid phone for only $29.99. This price if favorable for elderly consumers who usually do not have a large budget to spend on pricy mobile phones.

The LG Envoy is clearly a basic phone. It's a simple device that excels at phone calls. it can also do a bit more such as send messages or surf the web but it's more suited for users who have simple requirements such as seniors and new users.

But does it have senior-friendly features? It sports a 2.20 inch color display with 176 x 220 pixels. It's big enough to be ideal for seniors but we need other details such as adjustable fonts or backlights. A look at the keypad indicates that it's user-friendly. The buttons look large and widely separated.

Here are the rest of the features for the LG Envoy from US Cellular:

• Hearing Aid Compatibility:- M4 Rating
• VGA Camera
• Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR
• Micro USB Charging Port
• 24MB internal memory
• 1,000 mAh Battery
• E911 Ready
• WAP Web Browser

That's it for this preview of a new cell phone for senior citizens. Visit us regularly for more plans, services and mobile phones for senior citizens.

Revisiting AT&T's Cell phone Plan for Senior Citizens

It's been more than three years since I've featured the AT&T Senior Nation 200 Plan so I decided that the time is ripe to feature it again. It's been a long time so I hope that this post will inform new readers about this good mobile phone plan for the elderly.

The AT&T Senior Nation 200 Plan has pretty much stay the same since we first featured this blog. I think it's a sign that this offering is successful since it has not undergone any changes through the years. Despite competition from prepaid carriers, this cell phone plan for senior citizens has remained strong indicating that a lot of consumers have paid for this plan.

So, let me re-emphasize the details of this affordable cell phone plan. The AT&T Senior Nation 200 Plan costs only $29.99 with a 2-year contract. It charges a $36.00 for the primary line one-time activation and $.45 per minute for additional minutes. It offers:

• 200 Anytime Minutes
• 500 Night & Weekend minutes
• Unlimited Mobile to Mobile minutes
• Basic Voice Mail, Call Waiting, Caller ID, Long Distance, Conference Calling, and Call Forwarding

There are no additional charges for roaming and long distance. You can also add more features if you want but there'll be additional charges for those.

Do you think that this cell phone plan is still competitive with the existing offers in the market? AT&T seems to think so since it has remained virtually unchanged for years.

Stay tuned for more post on plans, services and cell phones for seniors.