Interesting (and somewhat condescending) view from multipel vendors about senior needs re: phones.

Jitterbug Joins the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women Movement to Speak Up Against Heart Disease

San Diego, Calif.  January 7, 2010  Jitterbug, the leader in delivering easy-to-use, innovative wireless services to people who seek simplicity, today announced that the company has become a proud supporter of the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women movement. To show its full support, Jitterbug is donating $500,000 to the American Heart Association to help raise awareness so women can lead longer, heart-healthy lives. >>> Read more . . .

 Doro Senior Technology Designs Continue to Storm Across the U.S. in 2010

Global Demand Surges for Doro’s Award-Winning Mobile Phones
2010 International CES >>> Read more . . .

Don't get me wrong -- I love my BlackBerry.  Really for no reason except that it fairly reliably buzzes wherever I am so that I can read e-mails, 80% of which are basically junk. Which makes me a true junkie, I guess. Otherwise, my PC is vastly preferable -- with its big screen, connected to the fiber that I am lucky enough to have connected to my house. My cheap cell phone is a (slightly) better phone and doesn't make me feel like I am talking on a calculator. >>> Read more . . .

Texting with your grandchildren -- and other features and phones.

Jitterbug Acquires MobiWatch to Bring Easy-to-Use Personal Safety Services to Consumers Anytime, Anywhere

Adds Doro, Consumer Cellular, FamiliLink -- and this site.

Reprogrammed phones that only dial 911 are given to seniors.

So let's say you live in an isolated location, leave the house to go out to a garage or walk the dog, how useful is a PERS pendant or watch? I am not impressed with how forthcoming PERS vendors are with little details like how far from the base station the wearer can travel. Here's the big player, Philips Lifeline: "Works from anywhere in or around the home, including basement, garage and yard. [Note: Range may vary due to construction of your home and distance from the Lifeline Telephone or Basic Unit.]."  So what is that range, anyway? Not stated.

>>> Read more . . .

Move over, Jitterbug. An intriguing new cell phone announcement popped up on my screen this week that could -- with some in-your-face marketing -- give the cell phone super marketer some competition in the senior cell phone market.

The Clarity C900 is both an amplified cell phone and PERS device.  Here's the gist of the announcement: "Clarity, a leading supplier of communications solutions for older Americans, today released the ClarityLife(R) C900(TM), an easy-to-use amplified mobile phone that doubles as an emergency response device.Seniors can place or receive calls with the ClarityLife C900, retailing for $269.95 by using four oversized buttons on the front of the phone which allow them to easily navigate their top contacts. They also can use a full slide-out keypad with large numbers. Furthermore, the C900's screen is twice the size of a normal phone with magnified text and bright back-lighting."" We spoke with Jamie van den Bergh, VP of marketing at Clarity, to learn more. >>> Read more . . .