Jackie and I have had the same old cell phones for years. If there are human years and dog years I suppose we could count our phone's age by fruit fly years. We do not use those fat little babies to text and to take photos or videos, to play games, to check on the weather or access Google. There are a million apps wasted in our universe.
The flips wear out every few years (multi-generations in bug years) and we've replaced a couple of batteries, and besides that all works as intended. Yet every time I go into the Sprint store a person barely old enough to take a road test with me looks at my device as if seeing something they have heard about but never seen. So far flip parts have been found in a dusty shoe box somewhere at another store where "they don't like to throw anything away".
However - - - - - - - - We have just updated ourselves. Jackie was watching, what else, QVC, which was promoting prepaid plans without contracts. This prompted me to research prepaid plans and I found one that fit our needs and will save us over $50 a month. We did need to get new phones though and now we have a camera and text keys and Lord knows what else in a much thinner object. Five cents per minute, two cents per text, minutes available in multiple combinations which we can replenish without paying for unused minutes. No contract or monthly fees. Hope everything works as planned.
The other day Jackie mentioned that Helen wanted a cell phone in case something happens when she is out driving. Some years back she had one, got into an accident, and the policeman was able to call someone in the family whose name was on her speed dial. Somehow, and probably for good reason, the phone plan got dropped and Helen never missed it.
Helen's sister Dorthy recently asked why she didn't have a cell phone with her when she drives so now the thought is on the front burner. There are some problems with the idea, first of which is that even if the phone is very simple to operate it may still be beyond Helen's ability to remember how to operate something she will use infrequently if at all.
In my research I found a phone and plan designed for seniors, but there was a better deal with a plan designed for kids. Five dollars a month includes 10 minutes (extra if needed for 10 cents per), no contract, simple phone. We went in with Jennifer and Jim for Christmas and if it gives Helen peace of mind, great. If she freaks out, no problem.
You should see the license agreement that I had to click, "I agree" to on-line. Written in big letters it had phrases like "You should not be doing anything naughty with this phone". A good Christmas thought anyway. Jackie and I think we can use her label maker to put operating instructions on the back, but we are wondering if we should put a bunch of names in the speed dial or just stick one person with all the calls.
He He, any volunteers?
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