The Jitterbug phone has been around for a while and is meant for the use of seniors or the elderly who are looking for a basic, easy to use, and affordable cell phone. Jitterbug is also a prepaid cell phone option, which is another good thing about the phone.

The Samsung Jitterbug J is remarkably easy to use and has many attributes that make it an attractive prepaid cell phone option. The display on the handset it large and bright with a legible font size. The buttons on the keypad are easy to differentiate and press for older hands. For those unaccustomed to using a cell phone, there is a dial tone on the Jitterbug J so you know when the phone is ready and the line is open.

The handset itself is comfortable to hold in the hand and cradle against the ear, which is especially helpful during longer conversations.

*Learn more about the Jitterbug J at Jitterbug.com.  

The Jitterbug J has text messaging available as well as bluetooth capability--but in the simplistic spirit of this cell phone, you of course can get by without using any of these functions.

Jitterbug phones operate on a prepaid model, which means there are no contracts to sign and you can stop service at any time without paying a termination fee. Many people prefer to use prepaid phones because it gives the user more control over minutes purchased and you can in a way shape your own cell phone plan.

These days, people are looking for any way they can to trim their bills. For many, cell phone bills can be quite high. I was personally paying around $70 for my cell phone plan until I switched over to a prepaid wireless plan. I use a Tracfone prepaid phone at the moment, but my next phone may be a Jitterbug J.

Jitterbug J provides live operator services, which can be a necessity for older customers who may need help from time to time. In addition to the emergency contact options, Jitterbug phone users can contact an operator who can dial someone from the users list of contacts or help them in other ways.

You have 24-hour support from a live operator just by hitting "0." This can be a helpful feature for some elderly users. But this phone is not only for the elderly, as Jitterbug has re-branded the Jitterbug J slightly, calling it "the phone for everyone." Still, it is important to note that this handset it pretty darn simplistic, which is good for the older user who really doesn't need to text his or her friends or surf the web via cell phone anymore, but just wants an easy phone to use to make and receive calls.

The emergency dial-a-nurse function can be added to the phone package as well for those users who may need the extra service. There is also the Complete Care package, which include roadside assistance and no-questions-asked replacement of lost or damaged phones.

Another advancement in the Jitterbug J is the MyCalendar function that lets users add calendar items online that automatically sync to their phone handset.

Jitterbug phone service piggybacks on the networks for various other CDMA networks--Sprint and Verizon. When you purchase this phone, you get a free car charger.

The "J" is not exactly cheap on the front end, but what you need to think about is ease of use and the amount of money saved over time.  Other carriers like Verizon Wireless will give you a free phone, but then they nickel and dime you to death with excess fees here and there.  Plus you have to agree to pay for a set amount of minutes every single month, and should you want to get out of your contract before two years is up, you have to pay a termination fee to cancel your contract.  

The J costs $147 and there is a $35 set-up fee.  Since it's a prepaid phone, there is no contract to sign--which is a huge plus.  If this Jitterbug J review seems lopsided, I have to admit that I do really like this phone, so that may be a reason why.  Still, it may not be perfect for you if you are looking for some more "smartphone" functionality.  For instance, if you want to watch NBA games on your handheld device, this offering from Samsung is not for you.

But if you do want a simple and affordable prepaid phone option that will let you easily make phone calls and keep in touch with friends and loved ones, and you don't want to break the bank in the process, then the Jitterbug J may be for you.

Rates start at $14.99 per month for 50 anytime minutes and go up all the way to $79.99 for 1,000 anytime minutes every month plus 500 night and weekend minutes.  

The design of the Jitterbug J is the rounded clamshell that fits comfortably in your hand or against your ear as you try to speak.  The gray color makes a good-looking serious phone, but the white is an option as well.  

The handset is approximately 4 inches long, 2 inches wide, and 1 inch thick, so it is not too small or too big.  You might say it is just right.  

There is a small external display that shows the time, date, and caller ID without having to flip open the phone.  The phone weighs about 4.5 ounces, so you know you are holding a phone when you pick it up.  

Comfort is a priority as there is a rubber ear cushion that help keep your ear comfortable--and protects hearing aids from being damaged by the phone as well.

Overall, this phone is a very good phone for seniors (who may have never used a cell phone before) and for others who just want a simple phone to have for basic use.  If you are smart about it and don't use the phone excessively, then a Jitterbug plan can be cost effective.  But, if you are a very heavy wireless user, you may have a pretty high bill.