Pros & Cons of Jitterbug Phone
By Ainsley Patterson
You have many different phones and carriers to choose from when you find yourself looking for a cellphone. Those who are not very familiar with cellphone technology and therefore don't need fancy features, such as a camera, on their phones may be attracted to Jitterbug's simple phone design. Additionally, the Jitterbug service may be appealing to those who are looking for a cellphone that doesn't require an annual contract.
Rate Plans
As with most noncontract phones, the Jitterbug's rate plans are rather costly. As of September 2009, the plan offering the highest number of minutes---1,000 anytime minutes and 500 night/weekend minutes---cost about 5 cents per minute.
Phones
As of September 2009, Jitterbug offers the New Jitterbug J, a Samsung phone, in either white or black for $147. The phone features a large keypad that is backlit to make dialing easy. The phone also has a "Yes" button, "No" button, up and down buttons, a speaker button to turn on the speakerphone function and an "On/Off" button. The phone has a color screen, and the numbers appear large on the screen when you dial so they are easy to see. The phone menu is designed to be easy to navigate using the up and down arrows, and you just have to press the "Yes" button to make a selection from the menu. The phone's speaker is powerful, designed to make hearing your call easy.
Demographic
The Jitterbug phone and service is geared toward the elderly and those who don't want a cellphone to use all the time, but only when absolutely necessary, such as for emergencies. The phone doesn't include the fancy features that many other cellphones do, such as a camera or a full QWERTY keyboard, which means it can only be used for making calls.
Additional Features
Jitterbug LiveNurse is a service offered to Jitterbug phone users that allows them 24-hour access to a registered nurse and a Health Information Library that features prerecorded messages on general health topics. Jitterbug also offers roadside assistance, which allows customers to talk to roadside safety experts 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This service is available for roadside emergencies in the continental U.S. and Canada.
Considerations
The Jitterbug user guide is a 209-page document; the first 175 pages are instructions and safety information, which may make you wonder how simple the phone design really is. The user guide explains specific details for accessing every function of your phone, which is handy for Jitterbug's main customer base, those who are new to cellphone technology.
Writer Bio
Based in Ypsilanti, Mich., Ainsley Patterson has been a freelance writer since 2007. Her articles appear on various websites. She especially enjoys utilizing her more than 10 years of craft and sewing experience to write tutorials. Patterson is working on her bachelor's degree in liberal arts at the University of Michigan.