Cycell Easyphone
Brainchild of designer and entrepreneur Tom Sunderland, phones don’t get any simpler than the Easyphone, as it doesn’t have a screen or keypad. When you order you choose a layout with two, four, eight or 12 contacts. UK mobile or landline numbers. Nothing non-geographic or premium rate.
CyCell uses a printer from the Japanese company Mimaki to produce a phone with the names of the people you want to call on it. Buttons are mapped onto numbers held on a server so if people move the numbers can be updated remotely. If you want to change a name they can print a new facia.
Reg Rating 50%
Price £45 – from £7.50 pcm, rolling 30 day contract.
More info Cycell Easyphone
Doro PhoneEasy 610
Doro is the company Emporia vies with and is probably the best known senior phone manufacturer in the UK. The 410 and 610 are their excellent clamshell phones. The 610 has three keys for dedicated numbers and one for text. More importantly it comes with a desktop charger. Menus can be edited to show just the wanted features.
There is excellent hearing aid support and a very loud ringer. Clamshells have the advantage of hiding stigmatising large keys, protecting from in-pocket dialling and make it easy to answer and hang up a call. The easiest phone to find in the high street, available from Orange, O2 and Carphone Warehouse. See also the Doro 409 from Tesco for £40.
Reg Rating 70%
Price £100 sim-free, £10.50/month on contract
More info Doro
Next page: Emporia RL1
COMMENTS
Re: Ageism much? @Chris Miller
'What's your next review: "Ten... phones for black folks"?'
Bit of an overstatement don't you think? Or was it said to add a bit of drama.
It's a legitimate article as there are older people who are not able to cope with technology especially smartphones, and speaking as someone who has cared for partially sighted people, the big numbers and screens are a godsend for some.
This isn't about ageism at all, its about access. Plonker.
Re: Ageism much?
The article took pains to point out that there are some physical conditions that many people develop as they age, which can hinder the use of a phone. Some people are lucky enough to retain a great deal of use in their hands, eyes and ears as they age, some people are less so. I don't know why catering to the needs of some people has been compared to racial stereotyping by the first poster. If anything, the designers have actively attempted to consider the requirements of people who are not like themselves- if that is not down the road of understanding and concern for their fellow human, I don't know what is.
My old man has large hands, and though I suspect that he would be able to use an Android phone, he is very drawn to a Motorola clamshell phone which has large buttons, to match his fingers. Having a clear way of turning the phone off would be a bonus for him (and for those of us he might ring up and then not hang up on). Having the screen and keypad protected from scratches and dust would be good as well.
Another old boy in the pub, a sharp and witty retired teacher, keeps enquiring as to how easy the keyboard on my Android phone is to use- he claims to have useless fingers, too. He often uses a laptop to keep in touch with his children and grandchildren, via skype or what not, but fancies an alternative device for when his home internet is playing silly buggers. I'm tempted to recommend him a 7" tablet rather than a smart phone- if needs be he can easily take it down the pub for the use of an alternate hotspot and free tech support.
Re: Ageism much?
"Senior" as far as I'm concerned is 75+, chances are folks of that age aren't going to be reading El Reg, whilst younger folks like me who have to decide what phones to buy for 95 year old great aunts find this kind of article useful.
Re: Ageism much? @Chris Miller
Enjoy making mountains out of mole hills do ya?
This was a sensible review of phones suitable for those 'senior' or 'elderly' people (or phone with impairments) who would not be comfortable with a current gen Smartphone. As specified in the article. Or was it TL;DR;?
What's your problem with that? Stereotypes? WTF? This article couldn't more more clear about it intentions. There was no stereotyping. There are old people, many have problems with Smartphones. That is a fact. Not all of them, of course, but that was specifically pointed out. So how about we title the article "Ten Phones for Seniors/Elderly. Except for those who like Smartphones, Oh, and also those who don't like smartphones and want something simple".
JFC.
Re: Ageism much?
Did you read this article or just the title? It clearly states that there are elderly people who are comfortable with smartphones, just not the majority.
My own father just got a smartphone for his 76th birthday and he is quite happy with it.
I am in my mid 50s and always found "feature phones" totally confusing to use, the menu structure was always different on differing makes and I never got the hang of texting. At least I can pick up any android phone and have a good idea where to find all the settings, apps etc. and can text on a full keyboard.
Sent from my Sony Tablet S, one of the best android tablets (of it's time)
Sherlock, because he looked before commenting.
