are you aware that regular cell phones will soon be obsolete, and harder to buy?

It appears to me that you are dealing with a contract phone company, they were only talking about their own company as it is certainly not the whole industry and not even a trend as far as I know. I use a company that handles prepaid phones and contract, it is called Virgin Mobile, I always buy one of their Kyocera low cost phones, each time I buy a new one (usually because I lost the old one or broke the screen) I check their site on line to see what is available for the "Pay-Lo" program. They always have at least a few phones for $20.00, on sale for $15.00 and sometimes less. This last time I purchased the phone I wanted for $15.00, for the first time it included a camera, I haven't used it yet but I probably will sometime soon. It has just the basic things, calls, text, and internet. I use only the calls, texts and messages. Each month I pay $30.00 on a certain date, this pays for 1500 minutes for calls and messages, 1500 texts, and some data I don't use. I only use about 1/2 of what I am allowed. For another $10.00 I would have unlimited everything, but what I have is already more than enough so why pay more. They have never mentioned anything about stopping production of the low cost phones. They also have the expensive phones and everything in between but have never made a point of pushing me to buy them.

I would suggest you find a prepaid carrier and read about the different plans and phones on-line. Pay most attention to the lowest cost basic phones and the lowest cost prepaid monthly rates. Studies show that the prepaid plans save a lot of money compared to the contract phones (used to be the opposite) Do not go to the store and talk to the salesmen, they are paid on commission and make their money by talking you into buying the more expensive phones and plans, they will tell you anything to make the sale and the commission, just like used car salesmen. One of the best things about the prepaid plans is that you can change the plan anytime, as it is month to month, there is no charge or penalty for changing plans and no obligation to stay with their company for a year or two. The contract plans are truly outdated as of now, but they will continue to push them because they earn a lot more money. Most customers on contract are not aware that they are paying way more than the average customer, their biggest mistake is to continue with the same company when there are much better plans and phones available for a much lower cost.

Good luck and don't let that company push you into more than you want, they think seniors are gullible and do their best to take advantage of us.

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I long for the original cell phones without all the features. They were a lot more reliable and you could actually hear out of them. Each new phone I get is worse than the last one. I now have a Razor (for just over a year) and I've hated it since week #2. I can't wait for the two years to be up so I can trade it for another sucky phone (in the hopes of actually getting a better one). The camera.... piece of junk. Almost never use it. Only thing it's good for is if you get in an auto accident and want to take some pictures for evidence. But, then again, just keep your digital camera with you and you'll come out with much better pictures.

Yes - all I want a phone for is to phone . . . remember just a few years ago: your phone or its battery dies, your existing carrier wants $200 for a replacement phone, everyone just cancelled their existing service and started with a new carrier who provided a new phone.

My "bare bones" phone died in December (after 7 years) . . . . checked my carrier's webpage and a they had a "barebones" for only $35. That surprised me . . got it and from all indications it was manufactured in 2004 so it's really older than the one it replaced. Has a camera . . . also messaging and internet features I had to deactivate or I would have been charged.

I would think that companies like "Jitterbug" who have staked their image on simplicity will be around for a while. Our condo building gets nice income from a carrier who has antennas on our roof - - - while they just installed new ones, they said that cell phones could be obsolete in 5 years as we switch to direct-from-satellite phones. Great.

I just ran in to this yesterday. I went to 3 different places. All I want is a basic phone with a camera. I don't text, I don't do internet on my phone and I hate all these aps. Yet all the sales people kept trying to push me in to Smart phones and were horrified when I didn't want one. So I am keeping my "dumb phone" as one sales girl called it, for now.

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If you get a camera, get a high megapixel camera so that it takes excellent pictures. Most of the cameras on phone are VGA which is less than acceptable. Personally, I do not think it is a good option. I would prefer to get features like gps incorporated into the phone.

There are plenty of people who only need, or can only afford a basic phone for emergencies. For ideas on basic and prepaid phones, just look at the ads in the AARP magazine, or go to Walmart.

Here in Australia your telephone company provides a sim card which just goes into whatever cell phone you buy, so your number and memory details remain.... on the sim card.

I actually have just bought an American cell phone (brand name "DORO") which is especially for seniors. has big buttons, clear display and an emergency button on the outside. I had to order it on line of course.

I wonder of the place you went to spun you a tale to get you to

"up-size" your purchase?

EDIT: I shouldnt believe the online sales pitch should I ?

here in america well we dropped our service. it is expensive and every time we upgrade well they ask if they can either throw it away or if they can donate it to the battered women. well the truth is i am like you i am fed up with all those functions that i do not need. i don't know how to work them nor do i wish to learn how. i do not understand nor wish to understand texting. nothing seems user friendly to me anymore. as soon as we get a new phone it becomes obsolete until the contract we have to sign is over we keep the familiar one then they take it away and gives us the new version. it is a mess. i agree.