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Post by gale w on Nov 18, 2017 2:31:35 GMT
My MIL is in an assisted living facility where phone service costs extra. So the family asked me to find out if free internet calling with an existing ipod touch or non-connected smartphone might be an option for her. I've been googling a little but thought I'd ask the peas. Does anyone use anything like this? Would it be bad for someone who is very much NOT tech savvy?
ETA : the facility has free wifi.
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Post by librarylady on Nov 18, 2017 3:49:49 GMT
Could she handle a Skype app on the phone?
Skype calls can be with or without the image.
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Post by busy on Nov 18, 2017 3:53:33 GMT
WhatsApp is really good for calls and it works very much like a phone, including using people's regular phone numbers, so should be an easy learning curve.
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Post by utpea on Nov 18, 2017 3:54:32 GMT
WhatsApp is really good for calls. Was just going to post this.  |
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Post by Skellinton on Nov 18, 2017 3:57:42 GMT
Yep, WhatsApp us super easy and works for great,
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Deleted
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Sept 21, 2024 3:19:42 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2017 3:57:42 GMT
Who will she be calling? The limitations of Whatsapp and maybe skype is the call recipient must also use those platforms. So if she will be calling her doctor for example it won't work. And all family will need to be on the ap as well. I don't know that they are really intuitive for someone her age.
eta: We use Skype and Whatsapp at work because our office is spread across the globe literally so it avoids international charges but IMO they aren't all that easy to use, especially someone going into an assisted living type of place.
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Post by gale w on Nov 18, 2017 4:39:41 GMT
She would want to call people who don't use a cellphone (her friends) or a smartphone (dh and his sister both use plain old flip phones).
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Sept 21, 2024 3:19:42 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2017 6:31:09 GMT
She would want to call people who don't use a cellphone (her friends) or a smartphone (dh and his sister both use plain old flip phones). As far as I know there aren't any ap based calling methods that would let her use her ipod or non connected smart phone to call these listed phones. You can google about VOIP as an option that would let her call her friends and your dh. But it is going to take some investment in hardware and a fair amount to technical ability to set it up and keep it up. If the internet connection goes down there is no phone connection. I'm going to guess the amount you put into hardware and set up will be about equal to or more than just paying the home for the phone service they have available. |
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Deleted
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Sept 21, 2024 3:19:42 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2017 6:33:23 GMT
another option would be to put her on your cell phone family plan If her phone is identical to yours it is easier to talk her through how to use it.
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Post by gale w on Nov 18, 2017 6:52:31 GMT
We don't have a family plan-we all use prepaid. One of his nieces does have some kind of contract plan but apparently it would cost more to add mil than what the facility would charge (around $55 per month for local calling only). We're also looking into tracfone, but the phones they offer aren't really senior-friendly. She'll need something with extra big buttons at the very least. I'm trying to find out if we could buy an unlocked phone to use with tracfone but it looks like I might need the phone in hand to determine if it's compatible.
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Deleted
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Sept 21, 2024 3:19:42 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2017 12:19:46 GMT
We don't have a family plan-we all use prepaid. One of his nieces does have some kind of contract plan but apparently it would cost more to add mil than what the facility would charge (around $55 per month for local calling only). We're also looking into tracfone, but the phones they offer aren't really senior-friendly. She'll need something with extra big buttons at the very least. I'm trying to find out if we could buy an unlocked phone to use with tracfone but it looks like I might need the phone in hand to determine if it's compatible. Have you looked at the jitterbug phones and calling plans? Their flip phone has extra big buttons www.greatcall.com/phones/jitterbug-flip-cell-phone-for-seniors |
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Post by librarylady on Nov 18, 2017 14:52:10 GMT
Jitterbug phones are sold at Walmart, per their website.
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JustTricia
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,842 
Location: Indianapolis
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Post by JustTricia on Nov 18, 2017 15:33:31 GMT
I don't know anything about it, but would Google Voice work?
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suzastampin
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,587
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Post by suzastampin on Nov 18, 2017 16:16:46 GMT
I believe calls can now be made through Amazon’s Echo or Dot. It could be fun for her to have an Echo as she could ask what time it is (something I love when I wake up and don’t want to open my eyes yet,) And so many other fun things.
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gsquaredmom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,091
Jun 26, 2014 17:43:22 GMT
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Post by gsquaredmom on Nov 18, 2017 16:26:11 GMT
I have my mom on a simple non smart phone as a fifth phone on my ATT family plan. Ten dollars a month no texting but that won’t happen anyway.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Sept 21, 2024 3:19:42 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2017 16:31:20 GMT
TO use google voice, echo/dot the person needs to have phone service first. They don't replace a phone, the enhance it. Google voice allows you to sync all your phone numbers to one number (home, cell, work) so they all ring to one number that doesn't belong to any of them. My profs used this to give out a personal number without actually giving out their personal number.
Also, for the echo/dot and similar devices the MIL still needs phone service herself and the recipient of the call needs to have the ap working on their phone. It can be great if all of your contacts are tech savy and like this stuff. But a problem if you are calling non-tech family/friends, doctor's offices etc.
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likescarrots
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,879
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Post by likescarrots on Nov 18, 2017 16:59:59 GMT
google voice?
You could let her use your number to sign up for google voice, then she can remove your number from her forwarding list so you don't get her phone calls.
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Post by gale w on Nov 18, 2017 18:36:13 GMT
Thanks everyone. I'll look at all the options mentioned. I have a feeling a plain old flip phone on tracfone might be the best. I might contact the company selling the other big button phones to see if they work with tracfone. That would be our best option since she has no credit cards and it would be easier if any family member could just pick up a tracfone card when needed.
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Post by gale w on Nov 19, 2017 0:00:48 GMT
We don't have a family plan-we all use prepaid. One of his nieces does have some kind of contract plan but apparently it would cost more to add mil than what the facility would charge (around $55 per month for local calling only). We're also looking into tracfone, but the phones they offer aren't really senior-friendly. She'll need something with extra big buttons at the very least. I'm trying to find out if we could buy an unlocked phone to use with tracfone but it looks like I might need the phone in hand to determine if it's compatible. Have you looked at the jitterbug phones and calling plans? Their flip phone has extra big buttons www.greatcall.com/phones/jitterbug-flip-cell-phone-for-seniors The jitterbug site says no service available in our area. Weird. |
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Deleted
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Sept 21, 2024 3:19:42 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2017 0:15:03 GMT
The jitterbug site says no service available in our area. Weird. Wow! Well, my next similar suggestion is for Cricket but I figured Jitterbug had the better network availability. Cricket has a flip phone with larger buttons if you want to check them out: www.cricketwireless.com/map.html |
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Post by gale w on Nov 20, 2017 9:42:23 GMT
It looks like we'll be trying a big button cell phone with tracfone. I admit I'm slightly frustrated with MIL. We took one of my old smartphones over for her to try out just to let her see how easy it is to make a call on it. She wouldn't even try it. She kept saying she's not smart enough, she'll break it, etc. I get being intimidated by new tech but at least try. Yesterday she wouldn't try BIL's flip phone. So if she refuses to try on the big button phone she'll have to pay almost $60 a month for a regular landline.
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