Seniors Shopping For Cell Phones Should Be Choosy

By Author: thomas edison
Total Articles: 4
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I know. I just went through the process for my 86-year-old father, who never owned a cell phone.And that confusion and frustration is shared even by seniors familiar with mobile devices."I need to find a cell carrier that is affordable and reliable, mostly for phone calls and few text messages," said Silas Pinto, a 60-year-old international business CEO and pastor of Silas Pinto International Ministries in Orlando.

So, what to consider: Ask questions: AT&T South Florida spokesperson Kelly Layne Starling recommends seniors with phones "have their plan analyzed for savings and to get help [finding] the device that best suits them." Like other carriers, AT&T offers options. The discounted Senior Plan for customers 65 and older provides 200 voice minutes for $30 a month, and includes 500 additional nights and weekend minutes and unlimited mobile to mobile calling. A parent of grown children may also join their plan. AT&T's Our FamilyTalk Nation Plan starts out at $60 per month for the first two lines, and up to five relatives can be added for $10 a month each.

Another option, pay-as-you-go plans. T-Mobilecustomers ...
... can purchase packets of minutes, from $10 a month for 30 minutes, which expire in 90 days, to $100 for 1,000 minutes over a full year. "These prepaid plans are a great option for seniors because they can be tailored to their needs," said Gabriel Torres, vice president for South Florida.

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My father chose the Samsung Jitterbug, which costs $65 for the device, works on Verizon's network and features large buttons and an easy-to-read display screen. No-contract plans start at $15 a month for 50 minutes. You can also purchase the 5Star Urgent Response service for $15 a month which connects callers to 24-hour medical response teams which use GPS to locate a user in trouble.