Cell phones created for the elderly people must have large buttons and also large fonts, that can be seen by people which have low vision problems, like the senior persons. Also, they use loudspeakers to meet the needs of the elderly. In general they have simple operating systems and interfaces and also use just a few commands in order to answer to a call or to make a phone call.

The most appreciated mobile phones for the elderly are those created by the Just5 and Doro companies. The first company offers simple phones, ‘the antidote to overly complex cell phones’, as the company says. According to Just5, a phone has to emphasize big buttons, to be easy to use, to have a personal emergency response system, an amplified sound system and a long-lasting battery.

Cell Phones For The Elderly (Source: conceptmobiles.com)

Big buttons really make a difference, because the user can easily dial a number, without putting on glasses. The ease of operation is granted because the company has got rid of all unnecessary functions that are overwhelming nowadays and which usually characterize smartphones. The mobile phones created by Just5 can be used by everyone that needs simplicity.

Cell Phones For The Elderly (Source: conceptmobiles.com)

Also related to the Just5 phones, they use a button that is not used by other mobile phones. This button can truly be a life saver, because it can automatically call your emergency contacts, such as your children and give you freedom and independence. You don't have to pay more for using this feature of the Just5 phones, as many say. The feature is integrated in the price of the phone.

The amplified sound is another characteristic of the cell phones designed for the elderly people. The sound system on the Just5 mobile phones is loud and clear, so they can enjoy talking on them. And finally, these phones come with a long-lasting battery, that provides up to 100 minutes of talk time. In standby, the phone stays charged for up to 6 days.

Cell Phones For The Elderly (Source: brain.pan.e-merchant.com)

Related to Doro USA now, this company has recently created the HandlePlus 326i GSM phone, that is an easy-to-use cell phone for those that simply want to make and receive calls. It has simple keypad, 4 direct memories and an easy-to-read display. Soft touch surface provides a better grip and also the speakerphone is set to offer a loud sound. This phone comes with 9 polyphonic ring tones, a vibrating ringer, 7 ringer volume levels, an ergonomic size and a battery that offers up to 2 hours of talk time. This battery is made from lithium, has a capacity of 700 mAh and offers up to 200 hours in standby.

All carriers offer various cell phone plans, divided in several categories, according to the customers, to which they are addressed. Thus we have cell phone plans created for individuals, businessmen, single-line plans, family plans, voice plans, data plans, messaging plans and many others.

The best way to find cheap cell phone plans and also of comparing cell phone plans is to enter myrateplan.com. There you will have the possibility of browsing and comparing single-line plans, family plans and no contract plans. All you have to do is select one of these categories, enter a ZIP code and optionally, your current monthly bill, before taxes. So if you want to know what are the cell phone rates lower than $50, for example, it is enough to write ‘safety’ in the available box you see there.

Cheap Cell Phone Plan (Source: wpcdn.tapcentral.com)

The cheapest rates, if you live in Denver, Colorado, for example, are offered by Sprint. For $29.99, you will receive 200 minutes, that you can use with other Sprint customer. This plan includes only minutes, no messages, web traffic, no extra airtime and also no other features. All these can be obtained if you have a phone that allows you to use them and also if you pay the necessary amount of money for this. For instance, if you don't have a mobile phone that allows you to get connected to the Web, you don't need a data plan. Also, if your phone doesn't have a GPS integrated, you will not have to pay a specific fee every month to receive GPS signals.

Cheap Cell Phone Plan (Source: mygreatphone.com)

The earlier presentation was made according to the single-line plans existing on the market; when it comes to family plans, the best option are offered by AT&T and T-Mobile. For $59.99 per month, a family can receive from AT&T, 550 minutes (no extra airtime, no text messages, no data plan and also no other features). From T-Mobile, the same family can get 1000 minutes. You need to consider visiting the site of these companies, because not all rate plans are compatible with all cell phone types.

And finally those that want to purchase a cell phone plan without a contract, these are the best choices: Cricket ($35-unlimited minutes for a period of one month) and Jitterbug ($14.99-50 minutes for a month and $0.24 additional minutes). The plan offered by Cricket includes text messages, but the one offered by Jitterbug doesn't. If you don't know these carriers and want to benefit of the services of a company that you know, learn that AT&T offers 250 minutes for a period of one month for the price of $25. A fee of $0.10 will be applied for additional minutes. Messages are included.

In this article, we will present the best cell phone family plans offered by T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless. These are some of the most popular carriers in the United States, this is why we have selected them for this article.

T-Mobile

The largest 4G network in the United States, T-Mobile, offers you the best services in terms of communication and Web traffic. All classic family plans include a 2-year contract, that comes with great promotional deals on phones, unlimited minutes to other T-Mobile phones, unlimited minutes for night and weekend conversations and 2 lines. You can add up to 3 more lines, if this is necessary. This will cost you $30 per month, per line, in addition.

Cell Phone Family Plan (Source: cellphonebattles.com)

T-Mobile recommends these cell phone family plans: Classic Unlimited-Talk+Text ($99.98 per month), Classic Unlimited-Plus ($139.98 per month) and Classic Unlimited-Premium with Smartphone Mobile Hotspot Service ($159.98).

Cell Phone Family Plan (Source: mygreatphone.com)

However, this company offers some other family plans, such as: Classic 1000 Minute-Talk+Text ($79.98) or Classic 1000 Minute-Talk ($59.98).

Verizon Wireless

This company has their family plans divided into voice plans, messaging plans and also data plans. All plans include one base price for your minutes and one price for each line you have. In the case of this company, you can add up to 5 lines.

Cell Phone Family Plan (Source: cellphonebulls.com)

We will start by presenting the voice plans. For the first 2 lines for which you will receive 700 minutes, that can be used at any time, you will pay $69.98. For 700 minutes more, you will pay $89.98 and for 2000 minutes, $99.98. In case you want to receive unlimited minutes, you will pay $119.98 per month.

Cell Phone Family Plan (Source: alaska-in-pictures.com)

In terms of messaging, the situation is much easier. For a family plan, to get unlimited messages you will pay $30 per month. However, you can pay as you go ($0.20 for a text message and $0.25 for a message that includes pictures and videos).

Cell Phone Family Plan (Source: shaswatpatel.com)

And at the Data chapter, we have these options:  pay-as-you-go (for basic phones only) for $1.99/MB and $5 more for a personal e-mail, 75 MB (for basic phones only) for $10; 2 GB/5 GB/10 GB at the price range of $30/$50/$80.

You need to take into account that overage charges will occur when you exceed the Data Allowance. This happens also when you exceed the number of minutes or messages that you are allowed to use in a month.

Are you searching for big button cell phones? Then it means you have a senior person in your family, because this type of cell phones are dedicated to those that have low vision problems and also a low hearing. In general, these phones are recognized for being great for the elderly, because the soundspeaker is set to loud and very loud and because the buttons have large numbers and fonts imprinted on them.

Big Button Cell Phone (Source: ecx.images-amazon.com)

A company that we recommend for buying big button cell phones is Snapfon. The site of this company can be accessed at snapfon.com. And the phone we recommend is the Snapfon ez ONE, that has these features: speaker phone; speaking keypad; enhanced volume; SOS button; easy to read screen; FM radio; GSM world phone; extended battery life and bright LED flashlight.

Big Button Cell Phone (Source: ecx.images-amazon.com)

These features are detailed on the site we have mentioned earlier. Of all these features, we would like to speak only about a few of them. For example, I have to say that I haven't heard of a ‘speaking keypad’ until now, so I am curious too to see what this represents. It is clearly explained on snapfon.com that this is a feature of the ez ONE mobile phone that actually makes your phone speak as you dial a number. So the keyboard of your phone will speak loud and clear the numbers you dial. Unfortunately, the phone doesn't use also the possibility of hearing and executing commands based on the voice of the user.

Other feature which seems interesting is the SOS button, which allows the user to press a certain button when there is a big problem. Up to 4 of that person's friends or family will be called and texted immediately, announcing them that something is wrong with that person.

Big Button Cell Phone (Source: ecx.images-amazon.com)

A feature that I personally like and I would like to see on more and more mobile phones is the high intensity LED flashlight, that shines up to 20 feet. This flashlight is capable of operating for hours while barely affecting the battery life.

If you still want some extra clarifications regarding this mobile phone model, learn that this is easy to use, easy to see and easy to clear, thanks to its large print keypad, 28 point font screen, speaker phone and enhanced volume. Related to the big buttons, which represent the main feature taken into account in this article, we need to say they are almost the size of a dime. And if you worry about the network, Snapfon ensures all the users that they can connect to any network in the world, because the device uses a quad band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz frequency.

When searching for inexpensive cell phone plans online, I have discovered myrateplan.com, a site that allows you to find cheap cell phone plans, based on your ZIP code. Let's say you live in Beverly Hills, California, and you want to see the available single-line plans. The other two available options are: family plans and no contract plans. After clicking on Single Line Plans, you have to click on Get Started. Let's see what are the plans presented on this site.

Four carriers are taken into account: AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless. The cheapest cell phone plan is offered by Sprint; for the price of $29.99 per month, you will receive the possibility of using 200 minutes. For $39.99, that is for extra $10 per month, you can receive 450 minutes from AT&T. The good thing is that Sprint and Verizon Wireless also offer you 450 minutes for $39.99. In this case, only T-Mobile is the carrier that truly offers the best plan: 500 minutes for $39.99.

Inexpensive Cell Phone Plans (Source: droid-life.com)

When we move to a $49.99 plan, we see that T-Mobile is the best again. This company offers 1000 minutes for this monthly plan, while Sprint offers only 450. AT&T and Verizon Wireless don't have a $49.99 plan. AT&T and Sprint offer 900 minutes for $59.99. Verizon Wireless offers 450 minutes for $59.99 and also messages or 900 minutes, without messages. T-Mobile offers unlimited minutes and messages for $59.99.

Inexpensive Cell Phone Plans (Source: cdn.razorianfly.com)

The other available cell phone rates are $69.99, $79.99, $89.99 and $99.99. In the case of the first cell phone rates mentioned now, the best options come from AT&T and Verizon Wireless that offer unlimited minutes. T-Mobile does not offer any cell phone plan for $69.99 and Sprint offers 450 minutes with messages or 900 minutes with messages. The second cell phone rate ($79.99) finds its best carrier in T-Mobile, that offers unlimited minutes, messages and data traffic. There is only one more carrier that offers a monthly plan for $79.99: Verizon Wireless. This company offers for this amount of money 900 minutes. The best offer when it comes to a monthly plan of $89.99 is offered by Verizon Wireless (unlimited minutes). The only available option, besides Verizon, is Sprint, which offers 900 minutes. AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon don't offer monthly plans for $99.99, except for Sprint, which provides for this amount of money unlimited minutes.

It is normal for AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon to not offer unlimited minutes for $99.99, because they offer this for $69.99 (AT&T), $79.99 (T-mobile) and $89.99 (Verizon Wireless).