| Although the majority of mobile phones produced | | | | incoming call. All of the buttons on these big button |
| today are designed more for style and features, there | | | | mobile phones can produce audible sounds in use, and |
| is a specific contingent of people who require phones | | | | the oversize screens make the readouts easier to |
| with larger buttons and controls. Elderly customers | | | | see. Many of the models in use also have an |
| need a phone that is easy to see and understand, and | | | | emergency call button that dials up to five individual |
| doesn't require advanced knowledge of cellular | | | | numbers simultaneously until someone answers to |
| technology to operate. For those individuals, a few | | | | provide assistance in a dangerous or life-threatening |
| specialty brands have stepped up to offer models that | | | | situation. |
| are more user-friendly. | | | | Though the phones are not cheap, the measure of |
| Mobile phones offer a measure of security to aging | | | | security they provide for handicapped, hearing-impaired, |
| consumers. The ability to reach friends and family for | | | | and elderly customers can prove invaluable in the right |
| special assistance is important, since healthcare | | | | situation. Part of the phone's high price point is due to |
| providers can't always be available twenty-four hours | | | | the fact that these phones are unlocked for GSM |
| a day for emergencies and urgent requests. Having a | | | | networks, meaning they can potentially be used with a |
| phone with simple controls gives them peace of mind | | | | number of service providers. |
| and confidence in staying connected to those who | | | | Another vendor in the big button mobile phones market |
| help them on a daily basis. | | | | is Swedish-based Doro, which has been popular in |
| The large majority of this special subset of mobile | | | | Europe and Australia for thirty-five years. The |
| customers are not invalids. Many volunteer and | | | | company made a grand appearance at this year's |
| participate in social and civic groups or provide | | | | International Consumer Electronics Show held in Las |
| assistance for less fortunate individuals. Their physical | | | | Vegas, Nevada, USA. |
| limitations do not limit their desire to communicate and | | | | Their low-price, easy to use phones have begun to |
| remain active in their communities and families. | | | | penetrate the U.S. market, providing stiff competition |
| Clarity is one brand that has been a leader in | | | | for established brands in the States like Jitterbug and |
| telephone handsets for the hearing impaired and | | | | Motorola. Doro's phones are not light on features, |
| special needs market sectors around the world. The | | | | either. The company offers a 410gsm model that |
| company was acquired by Plantronics in 1986, opening | | | | includes calculator, alarm clock, Bluetooth technology, |
| the door for new markets in the mobile phone industry. | | | | and an FM radio. |
| The models designed by the company are compatible | | | | Big button mobile phones will continue to have an |
| with hearing aids and provide amplification for those | | | | impact on cellular sales as aging consumers continue |
| who work in noisy environments or suffer from | | | | to demand reliable handsets that provide higher decibel |
| hearing loss. | | | | audio response, oversized controls, and simple |
| In addition to standard ringtones, the phones usually | | | | features that offer a measure of security to this |
| have lighted dials and a vibration function to signal an | | | | unique class of mobile phone users. |