Welcome to Elderly Mobile Phones

Elderly Mobile Phones is a specialist site giving information on accessible mobile telephones. We focus on giving an aged description of the three main manufacturers Doro, Amplicomms and Bluechip. Traditionally the mobile phone industry has been focused on the young rather than the old. Handsets have been far from accessible and although technology rich they have usually been complicated and difficult to use. Only more recently have we seen the more specialist, easy to use, big button mobile phones launched onto the market which suit those who are looking for a more accessible device. In recent years these new manufactures Doro, Amplicomms and Bluechip, among others, have invigorated the mobile phone industry, launching accessible ranges which include extra clear screens, big easy to press buttons, hearing aid compatibility, extra loud ringers and more. The popularity of these specialist devices has been immense. With the trend for the purchase of these accessible mobile phones initially being in Europe, the trend has now increased with sales continuing World wide.

What This All Means for Mobile Phones for the Elderly

Now you can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that stress free big button mobile phones are available for you to use. These big button mobile phones are made for people like you or your loved ones who just want to make a simple call without all the bells and whistles to get to the call screen on the phone. If trouble free maneuvering is what you are seeking in a mobile phone, that’s exactly what you can now get.

Choose From A Variety Of Easy To Use Big Button Mobile Phones – From Both Established Manufacturers and From Specialized Ones Too!

Knowing that there are a variety of mobile phones to choose from is a great opportunity to pick the one that will better suit you or a family member. There are many famous brand ones such as Samsung, Nokia, and Panasonic that offer important features that will be helpful to an elderly person too, or anyone who wants to eliminate any fuss in making a simple call.

• The interests of mobile phone users vary, so combining those interests with great features should be easy. There are seniors who want to be able to take pictures, and even videos just for fun. There are some rugged big button smartphone that can do just that. Evan a waterproof phone that is very sturdy as well.

• Sometimes you just can’t beat the phones that feature amplified sound, readable screens, and buttons big enough to press without having to put on your glasses to see them. You don’t need to pay high prices for these types of features that are simple, but essential for elderly parents that need to keep in close contact with essential family members.

Mobile Phones for the Elderly

When top mobile phone manufacturers were building new devices they often raced to pack as many features as possible into them, with little regard given to the usability of the phones. Extra features are okay in moderation but there comes a point where a phone is so feature-packed that it is difficult to use, especially for elderly people who aren’t interested in unnecessary additions. Satellite navigation is quite a handy tool to have on a smartphone, but who really needs it? A radio, calendar, currency convertor, RSS feeds and a host of other features aren’t really necessary for most people.

That’s why there is an increasing demand for “mobile phones for the elderly”

Despite the expression, it isn’t just seniors who are demanding simpler devices. Even today’s youth have a simple device as a backup to their high-end Android handset, primarily because it’s more reliable and can be used with ease in emergencies. A common problem that the latest high-end smartphones have is that the battery tends to drain a lot quicker, since every additional feature requires regular access to the battery to function. The more features a phone has, the shorter the lifespan of the battery. This might seem obvious but it is usually not considered when people buy new phones.

Manufacturers are all too keen to pack as many features as possible into increasingly smaller handsets. Small phones used to be appealing because they are more portable and thus “better”, or at least that was the philosophy in the not-so distant past. Now, however, there is a shift in the trend, with big button mobile phones gaining popularity. The smaller a phone is, the more difficult it is for elderly users to operate. Some have poor eyesight and can barely see the keys on a smaller device; some have arthritic pains that limit the movements of their fingers. Trying to navigate through mountains of menus on keys they can barely see or touch is far from ideal. Fortunately, top mobile manufacturers are starting to realise this and are incorporating new designs tailored specifically for older generations.

So, what’s the difference between phones for the elderly and regular devices?

The mechanics of mobile phones doesn’t change much regardless of how many features or menus the devices have. They are made using the same basic components and internal algorithms; although high-end devices will have more components installed, they are still using the same base materials as simpler handsets. Each manufacturer will have their own specific methods for building mobiles but there won’t be much difference when it comes to transistors and wiring. Some manufacturers use better components and that will always be the case, no matter what the industry is, but their design will still be of a high standard even if some components were cheaper.

Another thing that is regularly ignored is battery life. As mentioned earlier, more features means less battery longevity, and that is one of the best things about phones for seniors: reliable battery life. Having a simple mobile with as few features as possible will give that phone the longest battery life, with some capable of lasting for months before needing charged. Again, this makes things easier for seniors since they don’t need to fumble around looking for a charger. Ease-of-use is now the new normal when it comes to mobile phones, with people of all ages preferring a simple handset that can last for months without needing any maintenance.

Big buttons, large screens, basic features = WIN

Big button devices make it easier for people to see the buttons they are typing, even in darker rooms. It’s no secret that as we age our body degrades, and our eyes are no exception. So having small keys on a phone is not useful in the slightest for elderly people, in fact, it’s a hindrance. The same is true for small screens; they aren’t designed for people with poor eyesight and all they do is make things twice as hard. A large screen on a mobile phone doesn’t necessarily mean the handset has to be large, especially with today’s technology. All it does is make things easier for users.

Then comes the problem of having too many features on modern handsets

Sure, some features are quite useful, such as a phonebook and calendar, but others, such as GPS and voice synthesizers are more esoteric. Most people, especially seniors, have no idea what most features do on a handset. There can be up to 20 functions running in the background of modern devices and people wouldn’t even know about it. Let’s say 10% of those are useful, that then leaves 18 functions doing nothing other than hogging the phone’s resources and slowing it down.

Since the explosion of mobile phones over the years there was a never-ending race to see who could produce the next best thing, with no regard given to the practicality of the devices. People were happy to see new devices with more features because they assumed the phone was better as a result, however, that is no longer the case. Sure, some people will always opt for more feature-rich devices, but more people are choosing easy-to-use mobile phones due to their simplicity. Seniors, above all else, are demanding the industry recognises their need for simple, yet effective handsets.

Smartphones are perhaps the most difficult to use

Smartphones get their name because they are said to be more sophisticated than regular, Java devices. They are powered by an Android or Apple operating system to ensure everything runs smoothly. However, big button mobile phones can also come with such operating systems and there’s no reason why these types of devices can’t be tailored for seniors. The only thing that needs to change is the number of complicated menus and unnecessary functions installed. For the most part, smartphone manufacturers are recognising the huge demand for simple-to-use devices, but there is still plenty of room for improvement. A powerful phone doesn’t need to be jam-packed with features to be appealing to today’s market. Giving people the option to have features or not is now becoming the new normal, and hopefully this trend will continue.

Fundamentally with mobile phones for the elderly it all seems very black and white, the senior market is fed up with patronising gimmicks, the need for a helpline or a concierge service to discover and understand your display screen. The senior market and more are expecting bespoke great, top-rated, loud-volume, branded, sim card free, unlocked contracts and importantly an easy to dial big fonts telephone which is made to last and has a warranty to reflect this. Only this will put a halt to rumblings and groans of those in need of care and enhances all even those into their seventies and eighties! Thus keeping an older generation thrilled with technology.

To purchase an easy to use big button phone for the elderly in the UK please visit our recommended online retailer below:

Big Button Mobile Phones for the Elderly
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