Cell Phones For The Technology Challenged

These days the rush is on between the major cell phone manufacturers to see who can make the most technologically advanced phone. The hot trends are of course are touch screen, high megapixel camera and high speed Internet connectivity. This is great for many of us, but where does it leave the rest of the cell phone users that just want a phone? There is a growing population of cell phone users that are flat out rejecting the latest line of phones. I group the users into a few different categories; the over 65 crowd, baby boomers and the purist. Let me take each group individually.

The over 65 crowd is probably the first category that pops up in your mind. This is the group that is usually more technology adverse than any other group. They generally don’t accept new technology and if they do it needs to be simple. Could you imagine your 80 year old grandma using an iPhone? The first thing they would probably say is, “where are the keys”. My grandma has trouble enough just using a simple flip phone. This category of users want a cell phone that is as close to a regular telephone as possible. Forget about the texting and all the other “basics” we have grown to expect in a phone. They just want “simple”!

The next group are the baby boomers. Yes, yes, I know. There are plenty of baby boomers out there that enjoy technology and are more than happy to get the latest phone PDA. Most of the baby boomers that enjoy the higher end phones are the ones that have to use them do to their job, think Blackberrys. For better or for worse it’s a tool that they have to use. For the casual baby boomer however a regular flip phone works just fine. Throw in some texting and this group is more than happy.

The last group are the purist. When I say purist I mean people that generally reject technology, but have to use it in one form or another. This group definitely wants a simple cell phone. A cell phone that they can use to make calls and receive calls, period.

There are a number of cell phone manufacturers out there that are creating phones to appeal to the three categories I mentioned above. A cell phone carrier called Jitterbug has a number of simple phones. In fact Jitterbug touts themselves as “simple, helpful and affordable”. If you want simple take a look at Jitterbug. Next there is a company out of the UK called Doro. Doro has not made its way to the US, but I’m sure it’s only a matter of time. Their phones have large buttons, large display and texting. If Doro can partner with a US carrier I think there phones are going to take off. Lastly some of the more well know manufacturers have started creating “simple” cell phones. Pantech recently announced the launch of the Pantech Breeze for AT&T. As time goes on I think more and more cell phone manufacturers will cater to the over 65 crowd, baby boomers and the purist. This is not a market that they will want to miss out on. I look forward to seeing how well the various “simple” phone catch on.