President's Blog

In a recent survey of more than 800 Consumer Cellular customers aged 50+, cell phone simplicity was found to be the major determining factor when it came to cell phone and plan selection. However, we also found that about one third of this audience was interested in text messaging.

Texting has become one of the leading modes of communication. Here are a few tips to help make texting simple and hassle free.

#1 Know the Proper Texting Context: Texts are best used when asking short simple yes/no questions or when trying to gather quick specific bits of info.  Texting is not ideal for having long drawn out conversations.

#2 Use a Cell Phone with Easy-to-Read, Enlarged Buttons and Display Text: Nothing is more aggravating than trying to type a message on a phone that has small keys and a screen with small font.  Phones with large buttons and screens make typing and reading texts easier.  Here are a few examples of some text friendly phones.

#3 Texting is Informal: Unlike formal letter-writing or professional business correspondences via email, texting is a largely informal method of communication.  Traditional words can be shortened for ease of use.  A few examples include:

• Because = cause
• At = @
• Two, to, too =2
• You = U
• Are = R

#4 Keep Texts Short: When texting, keep it brief.  For example:

Longer Version:
"Good Morning.  I am going to the grocery store and am wondering if you need me to pick you up anything?  Also what time should I pick you up from soccer practice?"

While this second message won't impress any English teachers, it is short, and gets the message across. 

Many of you may have seen this chart called "The Ultimate Cell Phone Plans Comparison" from a website called BillShrink.com, being passed around the Internet. It neatly outlines the different cellular plans and pricing of these plans between the big four cellular carriers: Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon.

It is a wonderful, easy-to-read chart and I love it. In comparing this chart to Consumer Cellular's no-contract plans, it's blissfully clear how much money people can save with us. It's apparent that many of the large carriers do not cater to anyone who simply needs a cell phone for casual use, which I classify as those who use less than 500 minutes each month.

According to the chart, the lowest-minute plan is 450 - 500 minutes for each of the four carriers. Each entry level plan is $39.99 a month. Conversely, a no-contract plan with Consumer Cellular for 500 minutes is $30. With a two-year contract on T-Mobile, you would be paying nearly $200 more over a lifetime than you ever should, as long as you don't use more than 500 minutes a month.

Considering the actual uses of most cell phone users, it is surprising large cellular operators only offer plans that are worthwhile for the heaviest cellular users. Another study from the Utility Consumers' Action Network surveyed 700 cell phone users in San Diego and found that the average 'account' is paying a whopping $3.02 a minute! How can this be?

The answer is many people choose plans that are too large for their usage, often because the lowest-minute plans offered by the major carriers are still too much for their respective needs. Too many minutes are left unused, driving up the cost per minute of the few that actually are-a gravy train for big carriers.

No one wants to pay $3 a minute and I sure wouldn't want you to, either. So make sure your usage matches up with your needs. And if you find a plan the offers you the lowest cost per minute available, the more power to you.

Before diving into that "unlimited" cellular plan, it's important to ask yourself some important questions about how you currently use, or plan to use your cell phone:

• Do you care about texting or sending/receiving photos?
• If so, how often do you send/receive text messages a month?
• What about the internet?
• How often do you make calls?
• How often do people call you?

Many cell companies tout unlimited calling at night or to other phones within their network, in addition to unlimited texting and internet.

But stop and think about how often you are using your phone for calling, texting and/or the internet. Does unlimited make sense? Sure, the piece of mind of unlimited can be nice, but is it really worth the extra cost?

If you are not using the service extensively for these "unlimited" calls, texts or internet usage, the high monthly fee associated with the plan may make it a more expensive option than buying a plan that is more in line with your actual usage needs.

In any case, make sure you do the math.

To give you some perspective, a recent survey by the Nielsen Company reported in the NY Times, found that teenagers send and receive 80 texts a day, on average - or a whopping 2,272 a month.  If this is you, than an unlimited text messaging plan is probably a good bet. Otherwise, look elsewhere.
 
So, take a look at your past cellular bills and map out how you use your phone. That is the best place to start in determining what you actually need.

According to AARP, "up to 50 percent of the cell phone industry's income comes from overage charges that consumers pay for exceeding the number of minutes on their cell plans and 'underage,' which is the amount consumers pay for unused minutes."

Quite an interesting stat. If there is one piece of advice I could give cellular customers, it would be to monitor usage. I cannot stress this enough.  There is nothing worse on your cellular bill than to be surprised with stupendous overage charges that can add up quickly. Conversely, there is no need to be paying for a bundle of unused minutes every month.

That's why at Consumer Cellular we go out of our way to make it easier for customers to monitor usage and change their plan as needed - with absolutely no penalty. It's one of the beauties of no contracts.

We also encourage our customers to change their plans as often as they need to so they won't go over - or far under - their minutes. This is quite a shift in philosophy from the majority of cellular providers.

Frankly, an industry that profits off the mistakes of its customers is questionable. So next time you find yourself making more or fewer calls than usual, give us a ring or email us and make sure your plan matches your usage. We will be happy to help make it right.

Your wallet and your mind will thank you.

In a recent survey of our Consumer Cellular customers, we found that the majority (nearly 78 percent) cited that they just want to use a cell phone for the most fundamental of tasks: making and receiving calls.

Many of us already have a computer, a camera and a music player and don't need another one built in to our phones.  Remember when phones were just phones and not all these complicated things tied into one?  I sure do, and I know that's what some of our customers continue to want.

Other items Consumer Cellular customers noted as important when it comes to cell phones and service:

• Quality of Service (76 percent)
• Coverage area (70.4 percent)
• Knowledge, friendly customer support (55.5 percent)
• No long-term commitments (73.6 percent)
• Simple, easy to understand pricing (71.7 percent)
• Easy to read, enlarged buttons and display text (62 percent)

While some people want smaller phones with more features when it comes to cell phones, it's refreshing to know that many still want the basics, and that's why we continue to keep it simple.

In case you haven't heard, Oregon drivers must be "hands-free" as of Jan. 1, 2010. Five other states have implemented similar cell phone bans for drivers, including California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Washington.

So what does this mean? The regulation prohibits all drivers from using mobile communication devices (aka cell phones) while driving. No texting (or any similar function, like writing e-mails and surfing the net) and no phone calls without a hands-free device.

With the exception of Washington, where cell phone use is a secondary offense (you must be committing another traffic violation to be cited), these laws are all primary enforcement, meaning drivers can be ticketed for using a cell phone while driving without making any other traffic offense.

It is still legal, however, for drivers to use hands-free devices, like Bluetooth headsets. Consumer Cellular has always supported the use of these accessories and offers several hands-free devices on our website, including the Blue Ant Supertooth Light, LG Electronics HBM-760, Consumer Cellular Ear Bud Headset. Through our cell phone partnership with AAA, an advocate of the hands-free law, we also offer 30 percent off hands-free devices (and other accessories) to AAA members.

For more information on cell phone driving laws, visit: www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html

With the holidays upon us, many of us are making travel plans to visit friends and family.   On top of all the planning that goes into a trip like this, the last thing I want to worry about is my cell phone bill.  I've heard so many horror stories from friends and colleagues who have been charged with outrageous phone bills while traveling.  Here are a few tips to avoid the same fate:

#1 Provide Additional Contact Information to Family and Friends
When I travel, I give my family the phone number for where I'm heading and ask them to try me at that number first.  Of course, I'm available by cell in case of an emergency, but this method helps me avoid needless charges.  Also, most of the friends and family I'm visiting have cell phones, as well, so borrowing their phone is great for making local calls.

#2 Check Roaming Fees
If you are in a situation where you will be traveling and must rely on your cell phone, check with your phone carrier about roaming fees before your trip.  This information will help you manage your minutes and avoid unexpected charges.

#3 Avoid Using Hotel Phones
When traveling, I find that it's often the little things we don't normally think about that make our expenses add up; an extra latte, a souvenir at a gift shop, tipping the bell hop or taxi driver.  One way to minimize these unnecessary expenditures is to avoid using phones at hotels.  These charges are often expensive (especially if dialing long distance) and can add up quickly, so if you need to make a quick call, use your cell phone.

#4 Limit Phone Usage to Brief, Essential Calls
Now is not the time to be needlessly checking email, texting or chatting with friends.  Roaming charges can be extremely high while traveling so try limiting your phone usage to short, essential calls.  For example, I usually make a quick call to family or a friend when I arrive to let them know I've landed and am on (or behind) schedule.  If you need the Internet, take advantage of the free Wi-Fi in your hotel or a local coffee shop.

#5 Utilize Features on Your Phone besides Calling
Simple features on your phone can be very useful to have when traveling.  Worried about making that morning appointment?  Your phone has an alarm clock.  Not sure how much to tip at dinner?  Your phone has a calculator.  Bored while riding in the car or waiting at the airport?  Your phone has built-in games.  Many cell phones features often go unused and can be an enormous asset when traveling.

#6 Remember why you're traveling! 
Remember, the reason most of us are traveling this season is to visit friends and family.  Don't waste your time chatting with friends back home. Instead, enjoy the company you're with.  I always look forward to the holidays as a time to get away from the daily grind and enjoy the most important thing in the world - my family.

Safe travels and enjoy the holiday season!! For more tips about cell phones and related services, visit www.consumercellular.com

To make shopping easier this holiday season, Susan Ayers Walker (technology expert for seniors and founder of the SmartSilvers Alliance) compiled a "Holiday Gift Guide for Older Adults." Among the gifts listed, Susan recommends Consumer Cellular?s easy-to-use phones and no contract plans.

Call us bias, but we agree - our plans offer a simple and affordable way to stay in touch with friends and loved ones, especially during the holiday season. And our phones, including the newly released Doro PhoneEasy models, are the perfect gifts for fiscally-responsible shoppers looking for a thoughtful, convenient present for the parent, grandparent or great-grandparent on their list. To see our complete phone line-up, go to: http://www.consumercellular.com/Info/Phones

The retail market is full of other "keep in touch" technology items perfect for seniors this holiday season, including:

• GO Computer: With straightforward setup and an ultra-slim, lightweight design, the GO Computer makes the world of cyberspace easy to enjoy
• Famililink: Famililink's simple and user-friendly interface allows for simpler e-mail communication

And to see the additional items listed on Susan's gift list, visit:
http://www.caring.com/articles/gifts-100-and-up

A few weeks ago, I blogged about the upcoming UCLA Conference on Technology and Aging on October 30. I was asked to participate in a panel about how to design and market consumer products to help seniors live better and more fulfilling lives.

The panel, called "Designing for Seniors: Consumer Products for Better Living," featured myself; Jeff Hill, president and co-founder of MyGait, LLC; and Bud Meyers, senior director of merchandising for firstSTREET for boomers and beyond. The panel was moderated by Susan Ayers Walker, managing director and founder of SmartSilvers Alliance.

The discussion primarily focused on how, combined with new business opportunities, social needs are creating more and better products to age gracefully. The intent is not to "dummy" down technology, but rather to make technology easier to use - a challenge companies that sell senior-oriented products must overcome.

Seniors by and large are not afraid of technology. In fact, according to a 2008 survey by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), more than 70% of people 60+ use search engines regularly. However, according to that same survey, 64% of people aged 60+ say "too many features" is the most common reason for why consumer electronics products frustrate them.

That is why we introduced the Doro PhoneEasy 345 and 410 cell phones last month - to provide today's technology in a simple format. They are easy-to-use but also feature more advanced features, such as texting, an FM radio and a few games, making them the prefect phones to go with our simple, straight-forward cell phone plans.

I'd love to hear your thoughts about what you love or dislike about consumer electronics products. Drop me a line at presidentsblog@ConsumerCellular.com.

When it seems that electronics keep getting smaller and sleeker for today's younger users, it's refreshing to see that some manufacturers haven't lost sight of the unique needs of baby boomers and senior users. That's why I'm pretty excited about the latest phones from Doro and our exclusive partnership.

A Swedish company, Doro is doing some interesting things in user friendly consumer electronics to accommodate the inevitable aging process. Working with designers that specialize in technology, ergonomics and physical disabilities, the company just introduced the Doro PhoneEasy® 345 and 410 in the United States, which work well for seniors dealing with reduced dexterity, hearing and vision.

Doro phones have been a popular choice among mature users in Europe thanks to their simplicity and manageability, and I think they'll be a hit on this side of the pond, too. In a recent poll among 800 of our Consumer Cellular customers, we found that 62% preferred cell phones with easy-to-read, enlarged buttons and display text. The Doro PhoneEasy® 345 and 410 models deliver on both counts. Compatible with hearing aids, the phones also offer outstanding sound quality. And they still feature many of the bells and whistles you'll find on other cell phones.

I think everyone should have affordable access to a cell phone, for convenience and peace-of-mind in potential emergencies. At a low-cost relative to other senior phones, the Doro PhoneEasy's straightforward design makes it easy for aging Americans to keep up and keep in touch.

John Marick
Co-founder and CEO of Consumer Cellular