What is Jitterbug Cell Phone?

Jitterbug is not the hottest cell phone out there, but it is certainly one which you will not have to explain to your grandparents. Jitterbug cell phones are produced by Samsung and combine cell phone and special carrier services.

GreatCall Wireless, the company behind Jitterbug cell phone, offers various contracts including airtime on a month-to-month or prepaid basis.

Jitterbug currently consists of two cell phone models, which are similar and both simple. As a lot of old people are uncoordinated, seniors lack motor control. Jitterbug phone compensates for this using large shell design that is comfortable in the hand and is easy to grip.

Buttons take frail fingers into account, they are each large, easy to press and easy to find on the keypad. Even the labels are large and fonts (number and letters) on them as well. Yes and No buttons in the upper part of the phone are part of the menu system.

Special features of Jitterbug cell phone

When you open the Jitterbug cell phone the dialtone comes out of the speaker, simulating a landline phone’s behavior, so seniors can easy recognize that the phone is on. The upper part of the phone is edged with rubber ring cushion which serves as a gentle pillow when pressed to the head, and also lowers the outside noise, so hearing the conversation is better especially for seniors with hearing problems.

Althought the Jitterbug cell phone‘s screen is not large, it uses LARGE FONTS, and there is always just few words on the screen at the same time – which is part of simplified menu system and simplified instructions.

When user enters menu system, phone shows one menu option at the time. The menu system is designed as a series of questions, and jitterbug cell phone’s interface is tightly connected with “YES” and “NO” keys.

Pressing YES goes into that option, pressing NO goes to next one. First is voice dial, which uses speaker independent voice recognizion based on the names from contact list, second is contact list, which only contains name and phone number.

Contact list can be edited on the Jitterbug cell phone, or thru web interface of service provider. There are also call history, voice mail status screen and finally a phone status screen (shows batter and signal strenght indicator).

How much does Jitterbug cell phone cost?

Jitterbug cell phones can be bought online from $99, but you must also pay $35 activation fee and shipping and handling…  Jitterbug service plans currently only allow prepaid use: Jitterbug Cell Phone Service plans for more info… Want to know about Jitterbug Cell Phone User Experience? See Jitterbug Cell Phone Reviews and especially Jitterbug Cell Phone complaints for more info.

As we already mentioned Jitterbug cell phone is targeting the non-mainstream users.

Since jitterbug cell phone is easy to use, has large keys and clearly marked keys/menus where large fonts are used, it is perfect for young users (pre school kids and kids in primary school) and also for aging population.

Jitterbug looks to be a great senior cell phone and kids cell phone!

Jitterbug cell phone is special

Jitterbug phone also comes also in further simplified version. If you want a simpler jitterbug cell phone, then this is the one for you. The keyboard now consists from only three large, clearly color coded and visibly marked keys.

First one OPERATOR connects you to a live person of the service provider, who will connect you to anyone in your contact list, or any other number from a lookup. Second key is programmable (WORK), and third one is emergency service 911… To learn about more jitterbug cell phone read jitterbug cell phone reviews and jitterbug cell phone complaints articles.

Jitterbug cell phone is best for…

Jitterbug cell phone is perfect for an aging persons, so you might consider getting one for your grandmom or grandfather…

History of Jitterbug Cell Phone Service Plans

Martin Cooper had another company in 1990s – SOS wireless, which provided basic mobile telephony for senior citizens. SOS wireless had different service plans, that are not similar to today’s Jitterbug Cell Phone Service Plans. But even then they provided simplified, basic, oversized, three-button mobile telephones designed with emergency use in mind. In 2004 the idea of a simple mass-market cell phone brought in Samsung, and Jitterbug officially launched as a joint venture on April 3, 2006.

Unique Benefits of Jitterbug Cell Phone Service Plans

Network services including live network operators who assist users are accessible 24 hours every day.

Even on the service side there are some unique features, like operators greeting customers by their name when they call in.

Operators are trained to connect calls, they provide directory assistance and numbers lookup, they make changes and updates to the contact list of the phone…

This service in Jitterbug Cell Phone Service Plans is not free but it is not separately paid as well, as calls to the operator are deducting minutes from the customer’s monthly plan allowance.

Jitterbug service provider  also offer customer service contact for assistance with the phone use, and other service questions like technical support and billing questions, which are free of charge and not substracted from your Jitterbug Cell Phone Service Plans…

Although jitterbug cell phone is very popular within its target population, and jitterbug cell phone reviews agree that it is a great phone and service, including jitterbug service plan, there are some Jitterbug Cell Phone Complaints to be addressed.

No phone is perfect – Jitterbug Cell Phone Complaints

One of most frequent of Jitterbug Cell Phone Complaints is battery status and radio signal strength information, which are not shown on the home screen of the phone all the time. Therefore it is sometimes difficult to notice that battery is drained, until it is too late. The only low battery warrning the jitterbug cell phone shows, is surprisingly displayed only for a BRIEF SECOND, once you open the phone – and it is displayed in GREEN colored popup. This is weird and funny, as it does not seem like a warning, and it dissapears too fast, without user confirming that he saw it…

Several jitterbug cell phone reviews highlighted another problem – with charging the phone. Users must find tiny hole in the bottom of the phone – and this hole is in the middle of the larger black strip (connectors used for connecting phone to accessories and computer)… Finding the charger plug is difficult because it is not clearly visible and accessible, and secondly because charging plug is tiny and fragile. This seems like a big dissapointment to us, especially since the jitterbug cell phone is otherwise so cleverly designed to be easy for use by kids and seniors…

Jitterbug Cell Phone Complaints on the service part

It should be noted that Jitterbug requires a one time $35 activation fee with all of its plans. But on the other side, unlike other networks and plans it offers more services, especially targeted for its audience. This includes live US located operators 24/7.

Jitterbug cell phone targets the youngest and the oldest subscribers, and of course those who want simple usage. The jitterbug J model  supports text messages, but has no integrated camera, and its browser is very primitive, and hence the limitations in data support…

Jitterbug Cell Phone Complaints also include non existing long term contracts, which means that operator cannot offer big discounts on phones, as competitors do.

Operator GreatCall in conjunction with Jitterbug cell phones offers some unique features, which come especially handy for the baby boomers. Some of these are Check-in call, medication Reminder, wellness call, LiveNurse, Daily health tips, MyWorld…

There are many jitterbug cell phones on the market, so you can find plenty of jitterbug cell phone reviews around the web. Jitterbug phones new models are coming out once per year. There are not much changes though, as phone is meant to remain simple. There are two actual models (J and R100) and older Jitterbug cell phones such as Jitterbug Dial and Jitterbug One Touch remain to be supported on the network but removed from sales.

Jitterbug Cell Phone Reviews

Jitterbug cell phone offers simplicity even with service plans. There are no complicated plans, options and sales people… Jitterbug cell phone reviews agree that all jitterbug cell phones are affordable and offer convenient cell phone service, which can even be set up via internet.

There are two models in the market – Jitterbuy J and Samsung R100 Stunt, and both are frequently discussed in numerous jitterbug cell phone reviews.

Jitterbug J cell phone review

Jitterbug Cell Phone J is of a clamshell design, and is custom build for GreatCall Wireless by Samsung. Jitterbug J cell phone features an increased volume level of speaker that is compatible with hearing aids. For better readability of the screen this jitterbug cell phone’s LCD screen in brighter and uses larger text font than other cell phones.

New, even simpler Jitterbuy cell phone is the Samsung Jitterbug cell phone R100 Stunt. It offers a candybar form factor. This jitterbug cell phone basically provides the same network service but does not have unique features of the J model, and is hence cheaper.

Jitterbug Cell Phone Reviews and awards

Jitterbug Cell Phone reviews have in recent years awarded many awards to the service provider and to phone itself. One of the most outstanding awards was the Reader’s Digest: America’s 100 Best and also the New York Times Top 10 Brilliant Ideas of 2006. All in all Jitterbug Cell Phone reviews agree that Jitterbug phone offers best experience for elderly and kids!