Verizon Wireless Now Offering Jitterbug Phones and Services

I have previously blogged about Verizon's cell phone plan for seniors. Now the major mobile phone carrier has snagged one of the most powerful force in the cellphone for seniors industry.

Great Call and Verizon Wireless have announced that Jitterbug phones and services will now be available in America's most reliable wireless network. This means that the popular mobile phone for seniors and plans are part of the carrier's open development program.

The Verizon Wireless open development program aims to encourage innovation, provide new wireless choices, and expand the wireless market. The addition of Jitterbug phones and services fits snugly into the goals of this program.

But the question remains, what do this mean for senior wireless users. Well, this partnership provides a lot of benefits. Here are the top three:

• Users of cell phones for seniors will now be able to gain the security and confidence of making calls on the most reliable wireless network in the US.
• Jitterbug monthly services will now offer more minutes.
• Night and weekend calling will become more affordable.

It certainly appears that Verizon is will to invests billions of dollars to extend its network reliability lead over other wireless providers. With Jitterbug phones and services now part of its line-up, the carrier now owns a major part of the thee senior market.

Verizon now has capable phones that can match up with the senior handsets on other carriers. For instance, AT&T is offering the Pantech Breeze as a cellphone for senior. However, with the Jitterbug phone and a special mobile phone plan for the elderly, Verizon Wireless has a distinct advantage.

That's it for this post on the Jitterbug phone and services on Verizon Wireless. Keep on keeping tabs on this cell phone for senior citizens blog to get the latest news and updates on handsets for the elderly.

New Jitterbug Phone for Seniors Arrives!

There is no doubt that Jitterbug is one of the leading forces in the cell phone for seniors industry. The brand has almost become synonymous with the cell phone for senior citizens market. We have featured the company's phones and services in this blog multiple times and we now welcome the arrival of a new Jitterbug device into the industry.

Great Call, the moving force behind these useful handsets for the elderly, has announced a new version of the Jitterbug. Called the Jitterbug J, this cell phone for seniors features the same clamshell with large buttons. This special handset is now available online and via select retailers.

However, the Jitterbug J has a slimmer and lighter design than the SPH-a110 and SPH-a120 models. Despite it's new design, this simple cell phone for senior citizens remain comfortable in the hand.

The new Jitterbug J cell phone for senior is simple when compared with most of today's mid-range and high-end cellphones. However, it also offers new features that were not found in earlier models. The new features found in this new Jitterbug phone include Bluetooth that enables the use of wireless headsets.

This new mobile phone for seniors also provided improvements such better -screen navigation, custom ringtones, dedicated speakerphone key and call waiting. The Jitterbug J also boast of a battery that can last 30% longer than previous models.

New services include the MyCalendar app, which lets users add calendar items online that automatically sync with their handset. This new Jitterbug phone also offers new SMS templates and 24/7 access to a nurse call-in service.

Users can also subscribe to the Complete Care package that bundles in roadside assistance and free replacement of lost or broken phones. I like this service. It appears to be beneficial for elderly users. It is offered at a very affordable monthly price of $9.

Unfortunately, the Jitterbug J phone for seniors is offered at the same price of $147. We would have liked it to have a more accessible price in the face of the current economic downturn.

That's it for this post on this new Jitterbug phone. Tune in to this blog for the latest news and updates on cell phones for seniors.

Important Jitterbug Phone Software Update

We have featured the Jitterbug phone and service in this cell phone for seniors blog. The Jitterbug is one of the leading mobile phone for seniors in the market. However, this device is also imperfect and performance issues could sometimes affect its performance.

Samsung has issued a voluntary recall of Jitterbug phone units because of an issue that causes the device to fail when connecting to 911 emergency services. This Jitterbug phone problem most often occurs when users roam outside of their defined calling area or in the a no-service area.

However, Jitterbug phones will operate normally in users' home regions.

Owners of the Jitterbug phone may visit a customer service center to have the phone's system software updated. The models SPH-a110 and SPH-a120 are included in this update. Customers can also send the phone directly to Samsung, which will upgrade the phone and return it within about a week.

Here's a letter from Sue Weaver VP of Customer Service for Jitterbug regarding this problem:

At Jitterbug, we always put our customers first. Your safety and peace of mind are our primary considerations. When we learned that many of the Jitterbug phones sold after March 1, 2008 have a software issue that could, in a "no service" area, impact certain Jitterbug phones' ability to connect with 911 emergency services, we began working with Samsung, the manufacturer of the Jitterbug, to resolve this issue.

Please be assured that this software issue does NOT affect your basic cellular service. You may continue to make and receive calls, including 911 emergency calls, wherever Jitterbug cellular service is available. Again, this is an issue only when there is “no service” available on your Jitterbug phone. So if you are in an area where you are normally able to make phone calls, this software issue will not present a problem.

Although this issue potentially affects only a small number of phone users, Samsung is providing a free update of the software in most Jitterbug phones sold after March 1, 2008. Customers eligible for the software upgrade will receive a letter from Samsung explaining the two easy methods available: 1) visit one of the designated Samsung Service Centers in your area or 2) send your phone to Samsung’s Service Center using the prepaid envelope included in the letter.

As always, our Customer Service team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to assist with any questions regarding this issue or any other service need you may have. Simply call 1-800-733-6632.

That's it for this latest news on the Jitterbug phone. tune in to this blog to get more of the latest news and updates on cell phones for seniors.