AT&T targets seniors with calling plans:

[Ellen]

Following VZW, AT&T Mobility targets seniors with calling plans. AT&T Mobility launched a service offering tailored to seniors, following a similar recent move by Verizon Wireless.

Story Link: http://www.rcrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071029/FREE/71029005/1002/FREE

[OldPro]

Following VZW, AT&T Mobility targets seniors with calling plans. AT&T Mobility launched a service offering tailored to seniors, following a similar recent move by Verizon Wireless.



Is this where we point out that the same $30 at T-Mobile will buy you 300 minutes and unlimited nights/weekends? Plus you don't have to be 65 or older to get it. The big thing, tho, is the phone. What is ATT offering to compete with Verizons Coupe?

[Nwahs]

I think it would just be easier/cheaper to get a prepaid T-mobile To Go phone, $100 card, and then just have that for a year...it works for a whole year (much cheaper then $30/month) and that is also over 1000 minutes, not bad eh?

[tszefr]

I think it would just be easier/cheaper to get a prepaid T-mobile To Go phone, $100 card, and then just have that for a year...it works for a whole year (much cheaper then $30/month) and that is also over 1000 minutes, not bad eh?Indeed the prepaid seems a better choice unless user can regularly use over 300 minutes or so.

Look at the masses of postpaid users though. Peddlers can convince most anyone what a wonderful deal signing a contract is. Heck I had a Cingular person tell me how wonderful my Ma's postpaid plan was. $15.99/mo for 10 minutes. 10 minutes!

The plan itself is similar to N200 which I have, with 200 prime time, 1000 N&W and no M2M. Having such a light plan available is nice. Requiring age 65 isn't. Younger victims have to pay at least $40 plus+ and get swamped with at least 450 minutes whether they need it or not unless of course they know to ask for N200 and not take "no" for an answer.

[Rzrlvr74]

"Mobile virtual network operator Jitterbug also targets the elderly market segment. "

At least AT&T and Verizon aren't sucking the seniors completely dry like the Jitterbug. Has anyone else seen what they charge? My husband's Nana has a standard Verizon plan with a traditional phone and has no problems. Why do carriers need to treat the elderly as you would children? I mean, why not just get Grandma a Firefly?

[j__1]

"Mobile virtual network operator Jitterbug also targets the elderly market segment. "

At least AT&T and Verizon aren't sucking the seniors completely dry like the Jitterbug. Has anyone else seen what they charge? My husband's Nana has a standard Verizon plan with a traditional phone and has no problems. Why do carriers need to treat the elderly as you would children? I mean, why not just get Grandma a Firefly?I'll say it again... because the older generations are simply a little behind. The carriers should be serving up 3390's (that phone is a rock and still heavily used) or something similar with simple rate plans... perhaps flat-rate billing. Many of the carriers simply over complicate things and really need to differentiate better between each generation. Perhaps if the stores were merchandised based on generation baby-boomer, x, y... and whatever?

Verizon gets at this group because they are CPA types... all into the numbers and all that junk, ya hurd?

If you don't know, you betta ask somebody. ;)