Jitterbug

Network: Sprint, plus free roaming

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Phone reviews: Coming Soon!

Website: www.jitterbug.com
Customer Service: 1-800-733-6632

Claim to fame: The Jitterbug phone is made for ease of use and familiarity, particularly for the senior bunch. Instead of softkeys, the phone asks questions on its large-print screen, and users have the choice of “Yes” or “No” buttons to answer the questions. You even get a dialtone when you open the phone.

Overview: Jitterbug knows its target demographic: older folks who want a phone that “just works”, is easy to use and has service that doesn’t break the bank. Yet this demographic doesn’t want to be tied to a neutered phone, so the company has introduced the “J”, a text messaging enabled, Bluetooth capable flip phone that still sports Jitterbug’s unique take on a phone user interface: Yes, No, Up and Down navigate through all the phone’s features. Jitterbug phones are large, but the point of their size is to provide an experience close to using a landline phone, on a cellular handset.

Jitterbug provides service in the “hybrid” category: monthly service with nights and weekends as needed, without a contract. Additional minutes can be purchased in bulk to reduce overage charges as low as twelve cents per minute.

Pros: American customer service, simple phones, easy-to-understand rate plans, 0 gets you a live operator

Cons: Expensive phones, service plans aren’t the cheapest.

Recommended: Seniors or others who waant a phone that doesn’t skimp on font size

PLAN SELECTION
NOTE: Minutes “carry over” for for up to 60 days (vs. 30 days on a normal monthly plan)

Plans with 500 night & weekend minutes (starting at 7 p.m.)
Simply 29 – 200 anytime minutes for $29.99 (15¢ per minute)
Simply 39 – 300 minutes for $39.99 (13.3¢ per minute)
Simply 49 – 500 minutes for $49.99 (10¢ per minute)
Simply 59 – 700 minutes for $59.99 (8.6¢ per minute)
Simplicity Plus – 1000 minutes for $79.99 (8¢ per minute)

Other plans
Simply 14 – 50 minutes for $14.99 (30¢ per minute)
Simply 19 – 100 minutes for $19.99 (20¢ per minute)

Additional lines for $14.99 per month, free mobile to mobile

Overage minutes are 35¢ each, less with Add On Minutes (valid for one year after purchase)
100 minutes for $19.99 (20¢ per minute)
250 minutes for $39.99 (16¢ per minute)
500 minutes for $69.99 (14¢ per minute)
1000 minutes for $119.99 (12¢ per minute)

Additional features
Text messaging – 10¢ apiece
International calling – Call customer service for details
Voicemail – $3 per month
Handset Replacement – $4 per month
Roadside Assistance – $4 per month
LiveNurse – $4 per month
Handset Replacement + Roadside Assistance + LiveNurse – $9 per month

PHONE SELECTION
Samsung “J” (Bluetooth text-capable unique flip phone) – $147

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