| Gaining an understanding the Jitterbug cell phone | | | | plan. It's like the Monthly SOS plan. If you use the |
| service plans is one of the first things you'll want | | | | phone for anything other than a 911 call you'll be |
| to do before you decide if the Jitterbug is the | | | | charged .35 per minute. You can, however, |
| right cell phone for you. This is key because the | | | | purchase add-on minutes in varying increments |
| Jitterbug cell phone only works with GreatCall | | | | (up to 1000 minutes for $150.) These minutes are |
| service which is operated by Sprint. In other | | | | good for one year from the date of purchase. I |
| words, you can't decide later that you really like | | | | think this plan is really designed for people who |
| the phone itself but would rather have T-Mobile | | | | want to purchase the phone as a gift or for |
| service. The phone and the service go together. | | | | those who really don't want to have to worry |
| Also it's important to choose your plan carefully | | | | about paying a monthly bill. If you bought a year |
| because the per-minute rate if you go over your | | | | of service ($120) and 1000 minutes ($150) to give |
| monthly allotment is .35 cents! That could add up | | | | as a gift or for yourself, it would work out to just |
| quick if you're not aware of it. | | | | over $22 per month for about 80 minutes per |
| The Jitterbug Cell Phone Service Plans | | | | month. This isn't a bad deal when compared with |
| There are a number of different plans which are | | | | the Simple 60 plan which costs $20. |
| organized on the Jitterbug site as "Monthly Plans", | | | | The Simply Share plan is for people who have |
| "Jitterbug for a Year", "Simply Share", and | | | | others in their family who would also like to use |
| "Add-on Minutes". I recommend that you begin by | | | | the Jitterbug cell phone service. Calls made |
| looking at the Monthly plans because you will most | | | | between Jitterbug users are free with this service. |
| likely select one of these monthly options, and | | | | This option works as an add-on to whatever |
| looking at the other sections can get confusing. If | | | | basic monthly or yearly plan you choose. It costs |
| you (or the person you are shopping for) have | | | | $15 (in addition to your regular monthly plan) for |
| used a cell phone before you probably have some | | | | each user you decide to add. You will all share |
| sense of how many minutes you use. Just find | | | | your minutes on this plan, so if you use a lot of |
| the plan that best corresponds with your typical | | | | minutes even the maximum monthly plan may |
| monthly usage. If you have never used a cell | | | | not offer enough for yourself and another heavy |
| phone before, it's helpful to think of how you plan | | | | user. |
| to use it. | | | | You Shouldn't Select a Jitterbug Cell Phone Based |
| The least expensive monthly plan is called SOS. | | | | Solely on Cost |
| This plan is for emergency service. If you use it | | | | When you only consider the cost of phone |
| for anything other than a 911 you will be charged | | | | service, the Jitterbug cell phone is really only the |
| .35 cents per minute. This may be the perfect | | | | best deal if you are planning to use very few |
| plan for you if you just want to have a cell phone | | | | minutes - between 60 and 150 minutes. If this is |
| with you at all times in case of an emergency. I | | | | you, then this program is really a bargain, but if it |
| use the word emergency loosely here - if you call | | | | isn't there are still other things to consider. |
| your daughter because you have a flat tire and it | | | | You may decide that even if you use well over |
| costs you $2 to make that call, then assuming | | | | 150 minutes it's still worth the convenience of |
| you made no other calls during that month, you're | | | | having an operator on call who can program |
| getting a bargain! It doesn't make sense to pay | | | | numbers into your phone, or help connect you to |
| $40 a month for cell service if you only make 10 | | | | any number. (Do keep in mind that connecting |
| minutes of calls a month! | | | | with the operator costs you five minutes.) |
| There are five other options under the monthly | | | | In addition, there is no contract, which is a big |
| plans - Simple 30, Simple 60, Simple 150, and | | | | bonus for many. You can try it out, see what |
| Simple 300. These plans allow for 30, 60, 150, or | | | | your usage is like, and decide if you want to stick |
| 300 minutes depending on the plan you choose | | | | with the service with no penalty. Most cell |
| and cost between $15 and $40 per month. The | | | | companies require you to sign at least a year long |
| Fifth plan is called Simple Plus. It allows you 800 | | | | contract. |
| minutes, free operator service, and free voice | | | | Then there are the benefits of the phone itself. |
| mail for $80. (Voice mail is $3 extra per month | | | | To date there isn't another phone that is as easy |
| with the other plans if you choose to add it.) If | | | | to read or hear, not to mention the simple |
| you would prefer to simply purchase a one year | | | | usability of the product. |
| package so that you (or the person you're buying | | | | It's these features that make the Jitterbug cell |
| for) don't have to pay a monthly bill, you can do | | | | phone a great choice even if you plan or using |
| so by choosing Jitterbug for a year. This plan | | | | 300 minutes or more. |
| costs $120. You don't get any minutes with this | | | | |