Ultra Simple Cell Phone Search

6 years ago

For someone who's not old, just a stubbornly determined Luddite!

My husband has adamantly refused to use a cell phone and I've tolerated his mulish rejection for years, but it's time. For various reasons he just has to be reachable, and to be able to call if he ever needs assistance.

However, this is a person who determinedly refuses to 'understand' how to use a cell phone. I don't buy it for a second since he also holds a graduate degree in computer science, is a senior systems analyst by trade and routinely uses extremely arcane and complicated equipment like diving safety computers and precise online locational tools-he's a GPS ninja.

Anyway, following that long whin...introduction-I'm searching for the cheapest simplest possible cell phone. Not a smart phone, no need for texting or photography or games or internet connectivity. Just a device that will receive and make phone calls, preferably one which can be programmed so all he has to do is hit a button marked 'Runninginplace' to call me or answer a prompt called 'Runninginplace' to respond to me calling him!

I think I know there are pay as you go phones like something called a jitterbug or a go phone??? Obviously I need to do my own research but if anyone has had good experience getting one of these for a non techie or fellow refusnik in the technology world of today, your input is most welcome.

Featured Answer

finn flanman

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

not true for all flip phones. we got 2 of them by going into walmarts and looking for a flip phone as a pay as you go, no contract phone.

The phones are cheap, mine was 19.99 and when I went back a few weeks later to get my dh one, the model was being discontinued so i paid 9.99 for his.

You would be very surprised to find that the always manned circular sales counter in the cell phone and electronics the people there are extremely knowledgeable about all the phones... from cheap, easy to use flips all the way up to the latest smart phones.

They will match you up with a flip phone and a prepaid phone card, no contract required. You can purchase the cards in store thereafter, or after registering your phone with the plan/card company that is offered you can choose auto payment from cc or debit.

We buy the cards in store. They come with a scratch off serial pin on the back. It takes 2 seconds to sign in, click add a plan, since you wouldn't hit buy a plan, you already purchased minutes by buying the card, enter the serial pin number>hit enter and you're good to go. You can do this before your 30 days are up, they will show as in reserve and will take effect when your current 30 day period ends.

You will get text telling you, with an audio sound, as well, that your minutes/days of service end on your end date. One time onlyy.

You need not answer nor even acknowledge the text.

Likewise, you will get a text telling you that your purchased days of service plan is set,

There is no charge for this

Does it allow texts? yes.

Can you send texts? yes.

Do we? No. Never.

Does it have a camera? Yes. But no one has to use it.

Is there are browser? yes. Again, we do not use it. It shows on the viewing window on the right hand side. On the left side is menu.

If you accidentally open it you can instantly close it. Shut the cover/flip down.

And the op could indeed set up her DH's simple flip phone to be used between them for simple and easy 1 button communication.

She could easily go into settings>call settings>one touch dial, also known as speed dial

She could set her number on his phone as say, no. 2 click ok, close.

She can also go to settings>call settings>answer mode>flip open and/or any key.

Go to main menu, last row down, second from left>accessibility >large text>click ok

Now hubby just needs to open/flip the phone and hit the number 2 on the keypad, and hit send.

He will see that number 2 in the window viewing pane. It will indeed be large.

The mrs does not have to have a flip phone to use this system with dh's phone.

Her phone, too can have speed dial/one touch dialing

It really is simple to use, and the op can do all the settings.

Hubby just needs to keep his number known only to his wife or anyone else he might possibly want to add to his speed dial/one touch calling

eta: there is also the option of keeping/transferring your current phone number to this phone.

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Comments (14)

writersblock (9b/10a)
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Yes, I have a go phone, because I live in a location where I'm on the Edge network or equivalent for all carriers and it's stupid to pay a big bunch of money for a phone which makes me drive 6 miles to use it, but I'm kind of afraid you are like someone looking for a CRT television set that can still work. I used to have a simple brick phone that wasn't much different than using a landline, but they simply killed their ability to connect. The phone companies want to track you everywhere and sell that data, period, so they've disabled any phone that was just a calling device.

I do have a cheap phone, a flip phone, but it isn't simple to use. They badly want you to buy a cheap smart phone (the greatest torture invention of our time), and so they do everything they can to make the dumb phones aggravating. I have to navigate through a tiny screen to make calls on the new phone and they've diabolically made sure that the user can only control the volume of calls, not any of the system noises, so if I have to turn my phone on or off where there are other people around, all eyes are on me as the phone demonstrates just how loud it can make the ATT sound.

And for sure none of the go phone flips will do this:

can be programmed so all he has to do is hit a button marked 'Runninginplace' to call me or answer a prompt called 'Runninginplace' to respond to me calling him!

If that's what you're after, get an iphone. It's easier to use, really.
Nothing Left to Say
6 years ago
Some of my seven year old's friends have gizmo watches. I think they can basically only call their parents. He might find that insulting though. . . .
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bpath
6 years ago
The classic complete cell phone is the Jitterbug. This is from a CBS News article:

MODELS

JITTERBUG (Model: J)
GreatCall.com
$99, with a one-time $35 activation fee; no contracts and no cancellation fees
Purchased online at GreatCall.com
In-store: Best Buy, RadioShack

++ The original easy to use cell phone, custom-designed by Samsung
++ Large keypad makes dialing easy
++ Powerful speaker delivers clear sound
++ Bluetooth®, Caller ID and Speakerphone enabled
++ Access all options with simple "YES" or "NO" questions
++ Dial "0" anytime to reach a friendly GreatCall Operator

My DH is a computer science guy and a consultants. We were okay with our Go phones until he realized he needed to be more up-to-date with his clients lol. So we got Smart phones lol.
mamapinky0
6 years ago
Verizon has a cheap flip phone sold at Walmart and other fine stores LOL, its around 20$ and you buy the minutes seperatly (prepaid) very easy to use. Flip it open, dial, hit the send button. Thats it. when he receives a call you flip it open press ok and talk. It also comes in oversized number buttons for easier read.
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
6 years ago
I was going to say jitterbug too. It's very basic and made for the elderly so it's easy to understand. I have read bad reviews however so check that out. You can buy a cheap flip phone that is a pay as you go or buy time on refill cards. They even have them at Kroger and the dollar store.
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
6 years ago
https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2015/06/17/3-must-have-cell-phones-for-seniors/#33925aaf6cce

A few options listed.
runninginplace
6 years ago
Thanks for the suggestions! Writersblock, interesting thoughts and you are probably right. I'm going to check out some of the simple phones recommended here, and I"m sure will find something usable.
graywings123
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Is he going to keep the phone charged and available to answer? We went down this road with my elderly MIL years ago. The phone would go into her purse and she could not hear it ring, and the battery would slowly die.
writersblock (9b/10a)
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
For those of you who are recommending 'simple flip phones,' I'm kind of curious. Have you actually used one of these or are you just assuming that a flip phone now is like a flip phone has always been?

Because mine sure looks simple if you don't actually have to use it, but ATT wants to collect on texting and stuff like that (especially if you don't have a texting plan--they don't let you opt to not receive texts; they just charge something like 45¢ each for junk texts you don't want), so it's actually not simple at all. Make a mistake with the four-way controller and hit the internet button by mistake? $1, even if you aren't there long enough to connect. On my phone you cannot just flip it open and dial, even though it sure looks like that's how it should work. There are always messages from ATT and such that you must dismiss to get to the make-a-call screen. On the plus side, it only costs me $100 a year and I can roll over the unused minutes to the next year, so I have about $400 in prepaid time right now.

If you are really considering the jitterbug, please read up carefully on what it actually costs to use.
Indigo Rose
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I have a landline, and only need to use a cell on a very VERY rare basis. I don't text, I don't even retrieve messages and get most calls at home or work. (The way I want it) My cell is a tracphone which serves my purposes, and I buy a card annually for about $110. Since I never use up the minutes, the extras roll over. I deliberately went further backwards with technology this last phone as I wanted a flip-phone again! (I'm detecting laughter, or maybe groans?) It's soooo easy; flip it on, flip it off.

Alcatel A206G
- 3G Speed
- Bluetooth® 2.1 Wireless Technology
- VGA Camera/Video Recorder
- Internet Access
- MP3 Player (cable not included) Eventually I'll drag myself into this century, but I have no burning desire to do it any time soon. And no contract and little use = $ in MY pocket and no one trying to do what Writersblock talks about...I don't use any of the 'features' - just make calls or answer a rare call.
User
6 years ago
finn, what brand/name? I shop on line from here in the boondocks.
finn flanman
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
arggghh, this is the second time i came back to edit a post to add additional info, and when i went to click edit, my pc got a hiccup and i hit delete instead

total wireless is the plan, prepaid cards, no service contracts, i buy 25 dollar cards for 30 days of unlimited calls, it includes texting, but neither of us do/use it you can also easily add/buy a plan online, once registered it takes about 2 minutes.

very basic, no graphics on the screen, but does have lots of features in settings, and such, to personalize ease of use

any questions, just ask

you can also message me through my houzz page

use this link to the nearest retailer walmart to you

https://www.totalwireless.com/wps/portal/home/h/retaillocations

This is the same phone I have Lg flip phone at walmart.com for 14.30

flip phone
Iowacommute
6 years ago
There are nicer looking smart watches that make phone calls. There are tons of them now, but you need a plan for them with your carrier. If I wanted to get away from a cell I would go that route.

Ultra Simple Cell Phone Search

finn flanman

Comments (14)

writersblock (9b/10a)

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