Senior market for cell phones heating up on clarkhoward.com

Jitterbug is one company that's had a real corner on the market when it comes to selling senior-friendly cell phones to an aging population. Clark's 85-year-old mother has become a heavy Jitterbug user. Unfortunately, many of their service plans aren't exactly designed with the talkaholic in mind, so it's becoming an expensive habit.

Now there's a new cell phone on the market for seniors that promises to be a more cost-effective option for the heavy user.

Clarity may be expensive at $269, but it allows you to sign up for service -- no contracts necessary -- with T-Mobile or AT&T. (It is not compatible with Sprint or Verizon). If you choose to sign a one-year contract, then the phone only winds up costing you $184.99 out of pocket to purchase.

Clark is going to try the Clarity for his mother (on a T-Mobile plan) because it could very well work out financially for her. The Jitterbug, however, still remains a Clark Smart choice for light-volume calling.

There are so many new products ideas out there for an aging population. It's a real sweet spot in the market that entrepreneurs should be looking to serve.

In another example, LoJack is now making a location-tracking wristband for those with Alzheimer's, autism, Down syndrome, dementia and other cognitive disorders. The cost for service is around $20-$30/month.

What others are saying

Senior cell phone plans.....
Too bad that the cell phone companies do not offer a reasonably priced (read under 40 dollars) cell phone plan for senior citizens that offers voice only with minimal gizmos and gadgets. It sure would be nice to see at least one company looking to the growing senior market that just does not want to try to text it out or surf the 'net. I know I would be a customer.
By Winford Nettles @ 09/20/09 11:43:09 PMreport abuse
The cheapest cell service ever.
You never mention Kajeet in your cell phone plans. Best plan, $5.00 a month service + 10 free minutes. Then .10 a minute talk or text. Free google maps & Web connection. I spend under $10 a month total. Sprint service. No junk fee's attached! I love it. I'm a small talker, but I'm always in full contact. Designed for kids, but works for me as I travel across many states. Let members know about this great plan. I want Kajeet to stay in business.
By Fred Calim @ 03/08/09 09:38:57 AMreport abuse
Great Cell Plan
Check out consumercellular.com They have good rates,change plans anytime,no contracts,good service, add second line $10. and many options. I left Verizon after lousy customer service. I had a phone one day that broke and they would not replace it, because they said I abused it, they wanted $300. for new phone!
By Lutech @ 02/25/09 12:09:17 PMreport abuse
ELDER CELL PHONES
.....jitterbug gave me lousy customer noservice..I shipped it back..in 3 days...they would not activate it....so I went to Target, got a kajeet phone....after describing my cell problem.......great, do it all on the net, toll free number..$10 a month and 10 cents a minute..have had it 2 years now.....great...kajeet.com.......I just use it for rare emergencies or 911.
By CONSUMER CROCODILE @ 02/24/09 03:15:26 PMreport abuse
Low Cost Cell Phone Plan
Jitterbug has some nice phones.

Look at www.puretalkusa.com for low cost, no contract, product. It's on the GSM (AT&T) network. Only $10 per month. Gets you 101 minutes and you can buy more anytime via the web. There's no added costs or fees.
By Jim Carpenter @ 02/24/09 12:07:34 PMreport abuse
As long as...
You have a device that deactivates their car when they pick up the phone. Car+phone is bad enough...Car+Phone+Old People Driving is an Armageddon waiting to happen. I think those huge margins on "Elder-cell" should go to a big pot of "I got hit by grandpa" public insurance. I had to dodge three today alone, steady lookin the other way, but still pulling into oncoming friggin traffic. The LAST thing these folks need is a device capable of distracting them while they're driving. Here in my lovely state, you don't have to actually go in to get your eyes checked for your license but once every 10 years. YES, TEN YEARS. Give granny a phone though, so when she does plow through 4 lanes of traffic and under the 18-wheeler she can call and let you know. Groan. Not to mention, I used to sell cell phones for a major name brand. NORMAL people turn into complete drooling stumbling idiots when confronted with the task of entering a phone number into a phonebook entry. The last thing the tech-support world needs is the Andy Griffith Fan Club lined up outside asking where the power button is.
By That Guy @ 02/23/09 04:22:46 PMreport abuse

Senior cell phone plans.....

Too bad that the cell phone companies do not offer a reasonably priced (read under 40 dollars) cell phone plan for senior citizens that offers voice only with minimal gizmos and gadgets. It sure would be nice to see at least one company looking to the growing senior market that just does not want to try to text it out or surf the 'net. I know I would be a customer.

By Winford Nettles @ 09/20/09 11:43:09 PMreport abuse

The cheapest cell service ever.

You never mention Kajeet in your cell phone plans. Best plan, $5.00 a month service + 10 free minutes. Then .10 a minute talk or text. Free google maps & Web connection. I spend under $10 a month total. Sprint service. No junk fee's attached! I love it. I'm a small talker, but I'm always in full contact. Designed for kids, but works for me as I travel across many states. Let members know about this great plan. I want Kajeet to stay in business.

By Fred Calim @ 03/08/09 09:38:57 AMreport abuse

Great Cell Plan

Check out consumercellular.com They have good rates,change plans anytime,no contracts,good service, add second line $10. and many options. I left Verizon after lousy customer service. I had a phone one day that broke and they would not replace it, because they said I abused it, they wanted $300. for new phone!

By Lutech @ 02/25/09 12:09:17 PMreport abuse

ELDER CELL PHONES

.....jitterbug gave me lousy customer noservice..I shipped it back..in 3 days...they would not activate it....so I went to Target, got a kajeet phone....after describing my cell problem.......great, do it all on the net, toll free number..$10 a month and 10 cents a minute..have had it 2 years now.....great...kajeet.com.......I just use it for rare emergencies or 911.

By CONSUMER CROCODILE @ 02/24/09 03:15:26 PMreport abuse

Low Cost Cell Phone Plan

Jitterbug has some nice phones.

Look at www.puretalkusa.com for low cost, no contract, product. It's on the GSM (AT&T) network. Only $10 per month. Gets you 101 minutes and you can buy more anytime via the web. There's no added costs or fees.

By Jim Carpenter @ 02/24/09 12:07:34 PMreport abuse

As long as...

You have a device that deactivates their car when they pick up the phone. Car+phone is bad enough...Car+Phone+Old People Driving is an Armageddon waiting to happen. I think those huge margins on "Elder-cell" should go to a big pot of "I got hit by grandpa" public insurance. I had to dodge three today alone, steady lookin the other way, but still pulling into oncoming friggin traffic. The LAST thing these folks need is a device capable of distracting them while they're driving. Here in my lovely state, you don't have to actually go in to get your eyes checked for your license but once every 10 years. YES, TEN YEARS. Give granny a phone though, so when she does plow through 4 lanes of traffic and under the 18-wheeler she can call and let you know. Groan. Not to mention, I used to sell cell phones for a major name brand. NORMAL people turn into complete drooling stumbling idiots when confronted with the task of entering a phone number into a phonebook entry. The last thing the tech-support world needs is the Andy Griffith Fan Club lined up outside asking where the power button is.

By That Guy @ 02/23/09 04:22:46 PMreport abuse

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Feb 23, 2009 -- Senior market for cell phones heating up

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