Cell phones have become quite fancy. There are now three types -
- smart phones, which try to act like full featured computers,
- media phones, which try to act like home entertainment centers, and
- vanilla phones, which provide basic telephone connectivity services.
Cell phones can seem like an unnecessary extravagance to a senior because most plans charge you for the service whether or not you use it. But since falling accidents are a major concern of seniors, having a device on your belt that can connect you to 911 may not be such an extravagance after all.
The good news is that ANY working cell phone, i.e. that has its battery charged and was once connected to a service, will connect you to 911. You do not have to pay anything for that service. You just have to be physically close enough to a working cell phone tower in order to transmit a signal. The call to 911 will be connected.
If you or your family wants to take the next step and acquire a minimal level of service, pre-paid plans are available from a number of carriers. However, don’t just buy a phone at the supermarket. Do a little homework first. Cnet is one resource that provides a number of reviews.
The plan of action is -
- Network. Ask friends in your own neighborhood which service they use and how much they like it. No matter how fancy they may be, cell phones only will work if you are near a tower that links to their network. The major networks in the US are AT&T/Cingular, Sprint/Nextel, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Your neighbors have the best knowledge of which one works best in your neighborhood.
- Cost per Month. Once you know what actually works, the next question to answer is how much it costs per MONTH. All their advertising promotes cost per minute of talking, ignoring the fact that these purchased minutes will automatically expire after 30 or 60 days. You want a service where the minutes last at least 90 days. $20 for 90 days translates to $6.67/month; $25 is $8.33/month.
- Extra Charges. Some plans have extra charges, e.g. for roaming, i.e. talking outside of your home area, or other features. Avoid those plans.
- Once you activate the service, remember you are charged for all time, whether you are making or receiving the call. Consequently, it is wise to register the number on the National Do Not Call Registry.
N. B. Click below to make a comment. If you would prefer to make an enhancement to the original article, please go to wikiSenior and click on edit.
September 14th, 2010 at 11:45 am
I’ve had a BOOST cellphone for years. Nothing fancy, not compact. 6.67 a month (90 day $20 calling card… and unused minutes accumulate).
Watch Target for a sale, and you can buy the phone for under $50; I bought my speakerphone
on clearance for $29.