Just5 - Prepaid Cellular

Just5 was founded in 2007. It is primarily a European cell phone company. Just5 focuses on special needs users with only one cellular phone in five colors. The phone has big buttons, a built-in flashlight and FM radio and also comes with a programmable SOS button on the back.

Despite some pointed research not much is known about the company itself beyond the marketing designed "about" verbiage on the web-site. At this point it is unknown who actually manufacturers the phone.

The phone has large buttons, a moderately long lasting battery (six days of standby and one hundred hours of talk time), a high-volume speaker and a Personal Emergency Response System.

The Just5 is an unlocked GSM 850/1900 band phone which will enable users to connect with just about any U.S. or Canadian GSM service provider, including, AT&T and T-Mobile. The phone includes a SIM card or a card from an existing provider can be used. As noted above this must be GSM service.

The phone includes a keyboard lock along the right side just below the volume control rocker. It comes with a plug-in charger (house current) and a 3.5mm headphone. It has a two line monochromatic display. As each number is entered it is displayed in a much larger font that the previous numbers entered. The phone can also be told to repeat any number dialed vocally for audible verification.

The buttons are large with a large imprint of each number or symbol in the appropriate places on the handset. It also has a built-in white LED flashlight as well as a very large orange button on the back for emergency calls.

SOS Button
The phone features what is called the SOS button on the back. It will then send your pre-programmed text message to five chosen phone numbers.

Once the text messages have been sent, the phone will then begin dialing each of those number until someone answers. Once a connection is made the phone will automatically go into the speaker-phone mode in case the user is not able to control the phone for whatever reason.

Finally, if the button is held down for four seconds, the phone will sound a loud audible (rising falling siren sound) alarm.

Audible Dialing
The phone can be set up to repeat, vocally, each digit as it is dialed.

FM Radio
As mentioned above the phone comes with a built-in FM radio. When the radio is activated incoming calls are muted and if a call it taken while the radio is on the radio will automatically go into a mute mode until the call is completed.

Flashlight
The phone also has an LED white flashlight built into it. The light is arrayed across the top of the phone making holding the phone in the appropriate way handy and intuitive.

Volume for Hearing Problems
Another feature of the phone is a very powerful speaker which is capable of producing sound well outside the range of typical cellular phones. The advantage to this is obvious.

Memory
The phone is limited to one hundred (100) address book entries.

Price
The phone is offered on the Just5 web-site for $90.00, but has also been found on Amazon for less than that.

Just5 phone plans are very simple. Only four (4) plans exist and they are named (roughly) for the dollar amount of each plan.

They are:

• Just 10 (100 minutes; 50 text messages) $10 per month
  
• Just 20 (200 minutes; 50 text messages) $20 per month
  
• Just 30 (300 minutes; 50 text messages) $30 per month
  
• Unlimited (Unlimited talk for 30 days) $40 per month

All plans include; international direct dial, voicemail, call waiting, call forwarding, caller ID, international & domestic SMS (texting), nationwide long distance, and three-way calling.

All plans, but the unlimited, are good for ninety (90d) days. If you "refill" a plan before the end of the ninety day period any remaining minutes roll forward to the new ninety day period.

Because Just5 contracts with AT&T and T-Mobile as service contractors, the coverage area is quite good.

The Senior Phone for more Than Seniors
Despite the obvious target demographic, these phones are really good for anyone who wants a reliable back-up phone, has some challenging physical needs (hearing and vision) or who simply wants a rudimentary phone that does one thing well; make calls.

Accessories
The phone comes with a charger (wall plug), headphones and battery. There are no accessories listed (as yet) on the web-site.

Consumer Complaints
This is a new offering in the United States and I was unable to find complaints about Just5 or the phone itself.

Verdict
As for plans they are very straight-forward with nothing hidden or left out. Virtually everything a cellular user wants or needs is included. The phones are simple, easy to use, and designed to be helpful to those with a disablement regarding hearing and/or vision.

I think this one is worth serious consideration.

The author was not compensated in any way, monetarily, with discounts, or freebies by any of the companies mentioned.

Though the author does make a small profit for the word count of this article none of that comes directly from the manufacturers mentioned. The author also stands to make a small profit from advertising attached to this article.

The author has no control over either the advertising or the contents of those ads.