| For many seniors, the typical cell phone plans | | | | restricted calling needs is the AT&T Senior |
| available via major US cellular providers are ill | | | | Nation 200 Plan. By committing to a two year |
| suited to their needs. This is particularly true for | | | | agreement, users can get 200 anytime minutes, |
| those who no longer work and have adult children | | | | 500 night and weekend minutes, and unlimited |
| who are no longer in their household. As calling | | | | mobile-to-mobile calling. The fact that there are no |
| plans have matured and consumers have begun | | | | roaming or long distance charges does make the |
| to increasingly rely on their cell phones, the typical | | | | plan a bit simpler and the $29.99/month fee is |
| plan includes hundreds of minutes of talk time that | | | | certainly more affordable than the typical plan. |
| some seniors simply won't use. | | | | Calls beyond the plan limit do however incur a |
| For these individuals there are options however. | | | | higher rate; at 45 cents/minute. |
| The first and most obvious option are any of the | | | | Verizon Wireless offers an equivalent plan through |
| plans offered by Jitterbug, maker of the | | | | their Americas Choice 65 Plus Single Line Plan. It |
| uncomplicated senior friendly cell phone. Jitterbug | | | | too provides 200 anytime minutes, 500 night |
| offers a variety of cell phone plans which are | | | | & weekend minutes, and unlimited in network |
| certainly less complicated and perhaps more | | | | calling. Like its AT&T competition, this plan is |
| appropriate for those needing fewer minutes of | | | | available for $29.99/month for users who agree |
| talk time. All of the Jitterbug plans eliminate the | | | | to a 2 year contract. For senior couples there is |
| complexity of varied billing that is dependent upon | | | | also an appropriate option; the Americas Choice |
| time of day and location, as all calls are billed the | | | | 65 Plus Two Line Plan. This plan provides 450 |
| same. Minutes rollover for at least 90 days and | | | | shared anytime minutes, 1,000 shared night |
| there is no contract to bind users if they choose | | | | & weekend minutes and costs $59.99. Just |
| to opt out at any time. One of the plans offers | | | | as the Jitterbug plans require users to use a |
| users a pay-as-you-go option at 35 cents/minute; | | | | Jitterbug cell phone, these Verizon Senior plans |
| a fairly high per minute rate but one that can still | | | | require the use of Verizon's Coupe cell phone |
| save money for those that have limited calling | | | | which is designed with larger buttons and an easy |
| needs. There are also a number of monthly plans. | | | | view screen. |
| For instance, a user can select a 150 minute plan | | | | Certainly, pay-as-you-go phones are another |
| for only $30/month or if they dislike monthly bills | | | | option for avoiding cell phone plans that commit |
| they can choose an annual plan. In fact, a user is | | | | the user to large bundles of minutes. However, |
| able to select add-on-minutes only which roll over | | | | for seniors who want a predictable bill, the |
| for an entire year and can cost as little as 15 | | | | consistency of a plan, and a phone that is for |
| cents/minute. | | | | general use versus "emergency only", the above |
| Another option for seniors who have more | | | | options are the primary choices at this time. |