Jitterbug Cell PhoneMore than just big buttonsSearch This Site:
Jitterbug cell phones are designed to be easy-to-use, helpful and affordable. Let's find out if they meet that goal. Update: Jitterbug J ReviewCheck out my review of the new Jitterbug cell phone.A Jitterbug cell phone has one feature which can really come in handy: a dedicated operator line you can call for assistance with dialing. Also useful is their Roadside Assistance program. The Jitterbug phones have big buttons so you can dial quickly and easily. Their phone plans run as low as $10 a month, however it can become expensive if you're not careful, so read on . . . .
What's in a Name?Well, the word Jitterbug is probably meant to convey the swing or rock and roll dances of the past. So let’s see:If you were Sweet 16 in 1935 when Cab Calloway had his Jitterbug hit, then you are 88 years old today. If you’ve made it to 88 then congratulations. If you need a mobile phone, you might find the Jitterbug cell phone useful if you forget numbers or how to use the handset’s phone book which your dear grandchildren or great grandchildren have set up for you (even if know you could do it yourself).If you were Sweet 16 in 1959 when the rock and roll versions of the Jitterbug were popular, then you are 64 years old today. You may find the Jitterbug cell phone useful, but you probably want a standard phone or even an iPhone. And, if you were Sweet 16 in 1985 when “WHAM!” had their hit “Wake Me Up Before you Go Go” with the line “jitterbug into my brain”, then you are 38, a couple of years younger than me. If you're like me, you may have a few senior moments now and then, but you probably aren't considering a Jitterbug cell phone. InventorsSo much for the walk down memory lane. But one more thing. The Jitterbug phone was invented by Arlene Harris, and her husband, Marty Cooper, invented the first cell phone!In fact the Reader's Digest voted the Jitterbug cell phone one of the 100 best things about America(pdf file)! So let's really take a look at the . . . . Phones
UpdateThe phones now available are the Jitterbug J and the Samsung R100.Previous ModelsThere are two previous Jitterbug cell phone models one with a basic keypad with large visible buttons to dial, and one with just three buttons which you can set to call emergency numbers. The phones have padded ear-cushions, which Jitterbug claims make it easier to hear what’s being said. Both phones cost just under $150. You can get them from retailers like Best Buy or online.Jitterbug One Touch (3-Button Phone)--------------- Update: One Touch DiscontinuedA reader has written, "Your recommendation of the Jitterbug phone is right on except that they have discontinued the 3-button model and will not activate it if you purchase it from a different source...too bad because it was perfect for someone who is baffled by cell phone technology".So you have to choose the Jitterbug J or the R100. However, they have introduced an emergency device which may be a solution for some, though you can't make regular phone calls with it.----------------- This Jitterbug cell phone had three big buttons: “OPERATOR”,”TOW”, and “911”. In addition you can use the up and down arrows to choose from “FRIEND”, “HOME”, and “TOW” (again), or “MYPHONE”. You can ask their operator to set it up for you or even do it online.This makes it easy to set up or update the phone list for your parents or grandparents phone, rather than asking them to do it themselves or going through an operator. Jitterbug DialAs the name implies, you can actually dial a phone number with this phone. It’s got large easy-to-read buttons. It is true that some of those tiny phones now available sometimes make it very difficult to dial a number unless you use your nails.The updated version of this phone is the Jitterbug J. Here's a video review of the new phone.
Jitterbug BatteryBattery LifeThe battery will last on standby mode for about 11 days. The talk time when fully charged is about 4 hours. It takes about 2.5 hours to charge the battery.CoverageThe parent company, Great Call, uses Verizon to provide the network coverage for your Jitterbug cell phone. So you can call anywhere in the US and Canada without roaming charges. And speaking of . . .CanadaYou can apparently call anywhere in the US and Canada from Canada as well. Unfortunately, you cannot yet buy a Jitterbug phone from a store in Canada but if you get it online, you can use it in Canada during short trips.PlansYou have a choice of monthly and yearly Jitterbug cell phone plans, with separate “add-on” minutes you can purchase. There is also a “simply share” feature.Monthly PlansJitterbug cell phone plans range from $14.99 per month for the “basic” plan to $80 per month for the Simply Unlimited plan.SOS Plan (discontinued)The closest to a prepaid plan, because you pay $10 a month just to be a Jitterbug customer and then you pay 35 cents for every minute you actually use the phone.Basic 14 and Basic 19 PlansYou pay $14.99, $19.99, monthly for 50 or 100 minutes per month.Premium PlanThe Premium plan gives your 400 daytime minutes and unlimited nighttime and weekend minutes for $39.99 per month. You also get free access to the Live Nurse service.Simply UnlimitedTheir unlimited plan gives you at $79.99 per month, includes unlimited calling and also includes free access to their Live Nurse service.Add-on minutesIn an apparent effort to make up for the simplicity of their phones, Jitterbug complicates their plans by further offering add-on minutes that you can buy separately from the monthly or yearly plans. But they can be a good deal and don’t expire for one year. You can buy 100 add-on minutes for $25, 500 minutes for $100 or 1000 minutes for $150 (15 cents per minutes if you exclude the monthly cost).Simply ShareIf you have the Premium plan, you can add additional lines to your account for $14.99 a month per line and get free Jitterbug-to-Jitterbug calling. You also share your add-on minutes. This feature is worth it if you want to give the phones to yourself and your spouse or to more than one parent.If you have the Unlimited Plan however, each added unlimited line costs 69.99 each. You can add up to four lines to a primary account - so you can have a total of 5 phones on the Simply Share plan. Additional Services (Apps)Jitterbug offers a number of additional apps and services for their phones. The most prominent ones are the LiveNurse service and the 5Star Emergency responder service.Other health-related apps include a Daily Check-in call, a Medication reminder service, and wellness tips. Not everything is health-related however. There's also a MyCalendar app for keeping track of your social life. ConclusionWhile I was initially skeptical of the Jitterbug cell phone, I now think the Phone service is actually well-thought out. The Jitterbug J makes calling easy both with its physical features and in the way you use the phone. Click here to Learn more...Got more questions? Check out the Jitterbug cell phone ratings, questions and reviews submitted by visitors to this site! Return to the Best Prepaid Cell Phone Plans home page. |
