Mobile Phones for Seniors

When we think about mobile phones, the things we think of most are corporate employees and chatty teens. What we normally don’t think about is our aging community and what their needs may be. Senior citizens in this country are now a major group that companies are marketing mobile phones to. In fact, some companies are even designing more senior friendly phones.

The new phones are designed with just the basic mobile phone functions. Calling out, receiving calls and storing numbers in the phones internal phone book are the standard functions. This paired with larger buttons for easier dialing make these phones ideal for senior citizens. Now grandma doesn’t have to spend 45 minutes trying to find a phone number and another 30 trying to see and push the tiny number buttons to call out.

It is hard to imagine your grandmother walking down the street chatting on her cell phone, but in the case of seniors, these phones may come in handy, maybe even save lives if used responsibly. These mobile phones are a definite asset when a situation like car trouble arises.

So now when our relatives reach their golden years and decide to take the RV and travel across country, they can do so with peace of mind that in the event of an emergency, they have 24-hour contact with civilization. It will also give peace of mind to their loved ones. They can travel safely knowing they are always in contact in case of an emergency.

Most Expensive Mobile Phone

In the world of mobile phones being a dime a dozen, sometimes people find the need to stand out from the crowd. In July of 2006 a Russian company that paired with a celebrity jeweler created a mobile phone, which cost US$1.3 million. Of course, this is not your ordinary run of the mill phone. Not by any means.

Not only is the casing outlandish in design…and price, the capabilities reach far beyond what our local mobile phone dealers have to offer us. The solid platinum phone has advanced security and operates as your computer at home would, using a Windows CE operating system.

In addition to the platinum casing, there is 18carat rose gold and 28 round cut diamonds encrusted in the navigation key. Even the accessories are outlandish in design. The phone comes with a platinum leather carrying case and platinum lock. The box it comes in is made of suede and when opened it plays music that can be tailored to the clients taste. There is also room on both the case and the phone itself for a company logo or name to be engraved.

So really, who is going to spend US$1.3 million on a cell phone? Of course, this price does not even include the calling plan. I don’t think you would want to be walking down the street and whip this phone out when it rings. I would be afraid of being mugged. People get their cell phones stolen at alarming rates every day. Anyone who has an eye for pricey items will definitely notice something like this pressed to the ear of some corporate guy. And with the distraction that being on a mobile phone causes, it makes the owner easy prey.

Staying out of trouble when buying Mobile Phones

The market has been overrun by the mobile phone industry. Where does one begin when searching out a mobile phone and service carrier? Which phone is the best one for the buck? Which service plan will meet the needs of the customer without sending them into a downward spiral of bankruptcy?

A simple search on the Internet will reward the consumer with literally millions of choices. A trip to local businesses that offer mobile phones and service plans will not necessarily prove any better. The best thing to try to do is educate yourself before purchasing. In many cases once you sign up for a service plan, you are obligated to fulfill the contract before you can change plans. Usually the contract terms are for the period of one year.

There are mobile phones available that have no contract. The phone time is pre-purchased and you are allotted a number of minutes for each dollar you add. This is the best option for those who are less responsible or who don’t want the trouble of a monthly bill. Your phone lets you know when your minutes are up and purchasing new minutes is as easy as a phone call, visit to the Internet or trip to the store. Most people who use this type of phone are the ones who keep their phones strictly for emergency uses.

Otherwise, spend time researching and talking to people. Don’t fall for the first sale thrust upon you and definitely spend the time to thoroughly read and understand your contract. This preemptive tactic will help keep you out of trouble when it comes time for the dreaded monthly mobile phone bill.

Technology of Mobile Phones

Where will technology take us? With the introduction of the newest gadgets every year, the experts have given us the technology to put almost everything we do into one little device. The Mobile Phone. Once just used for simple person-to-person contact, the mobile phone has grown up a lot since its introduction in the 90’s.

Even your basic cell phones offer a selection of advanced features. Where will it end? Will our mobile phone one day run our lives? Unlock our cars perhaps? Be used as a remote control for our television?

Of course, you can place calls with your mobile phone from almost anywhere and at anytime. Of course there are still a few places out there where the signal antennas don’t reach, but before long, this wont matter. Another feature that is more common on phones now is text messaging. This works just the same as instant messengers on our computers. People can talk to each other via text. This makes conversing easier when one person is otherwise occupied and cannot keep an actual conversation at the time.

Another feature most phones have nowadays is a digital camera. This feature has both its pros and cons. Most people don’t carry a camera with them at all times for those moments when we wish we did have one. They have proven helpful in situations like car accidents, criminal situations, and even catching the occasional embarrassing moment on film. But there have also been arguments in regards to privacy. People have been found using the camera phone for spying on other people in places like dressing rooms and under tables.

Cell phones now offer so many more advanced options. Things such as MP3 players, FM radios, GPS services and advanced Internet capabilities. Someday, our mobile phones may replace our notebook computers in their capabilities.

Mobile Phones and the Teenager

A growing trend in this country is the use of mobile phones by children under 18. In fact, 50 percent of children in the U.S. today have their own cell phones. This number is astonishing and to no surprise is on the rise. As it is, we spend too little time really involved in what our children do. Who they talk to, who they text message and who they send digital photos to becomes a mystery when they are allowed to have their own mobile phones.

Of course, every youngster is different and some are very responsible when it comes to the use of their phones. But to keep our children safe we must remember to be accountable and teach our children to be accountable for their actions. Many a teen has run their parents cell phone bill up so high that they have had to confiscate the phone. But the key is to stop the problem before it happens. The key is to set limits, and to stay involved.

Know with whom your children are talking to. Set firm rules about the times they are allowed to use their phones. Know whom they are sending pictures to and what sort of pictures they are sending. The same with text messages. One more thing we should consider is whether we want our kids using their phones while operating a vehicle. 6000 kids die annually in car accidents and with 48 percent of teens reportedly talking on the phone while driving, the mixture can be deadly. The key to keeping our kids safe is to be informed.