Basic phones for at&t: Basic Cell Phone Att : Target

• Plans from $25.99 per month: Starting at under $25 per month, AT&T is one of the most affordable major wireless providers for seniors.
• Advanced devices: Being one of the nation’s largest cellular providers, AT&T offers just about any type of cell phone, from advanced iPhones to simple flip phones.
• Discounts for multiple lines: Nearly all of AT&T’s cellular plans come at discounted rates with each additional line of service you purchase.
• No data throttling: Unlike popular providers such as Mint Mobile, AT&T won’t slow your data speeds after meeting usage thresholds.
• Discounts for AARP members: Regardless of the state you live in, AARP members can get 10% off their monthly bill when signing up for AT&T’s Unlimited Elite plan. Florida AARP members can switch from another network and get $100 in statement credits.

AT&T Cons

• Limited availability: AT&T’s Unlimited 55+ plans are currently only available to those with a Florida billing address. Similar to Verizon, AT&T requires seniors living outside of Florida to select other more costly unlimited plans.
• Higher up-front costs: While they come at lower monthly costs, AT&T’s prepaid plans must be paid in full at the onset, driving up your initial costs.
• Activation fees: Though not listed in the monthly price, most of AT&T’s plans require hidden fees for activation. However, these fees can sometimes be waived for AARP members.

How To Shop with AT&T

AT&T’s website is a great place to get started in your search for a new phone or plan. You’ll find information on a variety of flip phones, smartphones, and different service plans online.

For heavy data users, there are unlimited plans starting at $30 per month per line, featuring 5G access, standard definition streaming, and unlimited talk, text, and data (when you get four lines).

There are also several affordable prepaid phone plans offered by AT&T for those who don’t spend a great deal of time on cellular usage. I’d recommend looking into their $25 per month for 8GB of data monthly prepaid phone plan with unlimited talk and text, and data.

AT&T, like Verizon and T-Mobile, offers plans tailored to older adults; however, with AT&T, these plans cannot be purchased online. You’ll need to visit the AT&T store in person and present proof of age to secure the offer.

Once the purchase is made, you may find detailed instructions on the website’s support page to help activate plans and unlock the phones. Alternately, the company has a toll-free number for wireless support.

AT&T Plans for Seniors

In addition to these plans, there is also AT&T Lifeline, a federal program that is perfect for older adults who have a fixed income or are dependent on government programs. Qualifying households get at a minimum of $7.25 per month discount on their phone bill, which can add up to significant savings over the course of a year.

Savings Tip: AT&T offers 10% discounts to AARP members and approximately 25% discount on unlimited plans for veterans. An additional $20 discount is applicable on choosing AutoPay and paperless billing.

AT&T Devices

AT&T retails almost every kind of phone there is, from the latest from Apple and Samsung to basic flip phones. Many of the devices can either be bought for a one-time-fee or via an installment plan, where the associated cost is added to your monthly cellular bill and is typically paid off within 30 months. Users may subscribe to AT&T wireless service by buying a new phone or exchanging the old phone for a discount on a newer model.

Here’s a selection of AT&T’s cell phones that are perfectly geared towards the needs of older adults:

SONIM XP5s

Sonim XP5s

The average American is said to drop their phone at least four times a week. Fortunately, the SONIM XP5s is drop-proof, in addition to having oversized buttons and keys. Retailing at $339.99, it has AT&T’s Enhanced Push-to-Talk (EPTT) capabilities that makes for more simplified calling. This rugged phone is perfect for older users who use their device primarily for making calls and texting, and it can be used with any of AT&T’s plans. Additionally, it has a 3-year warranty and oversized buttons and keys for older adults with dexterity or vision impairments.

Cingular Flip IV

The AT&T Cingular Flip IV has compatibility with YouTube, Facebook, and Google Maps.

At $62.99, this lightweight device is ideal for the older adult’s everyday communication needs. What’s more, users can watch YouTube, get directions from Google Maps, and execute tasks via voice commands using the phone’s integrated Google Assistant. With long-lasting battery life, the AT&T Cingular Flip IV’s large keypad and navigation keys also make it really easy to operate, even for those struggling with arthritis and vision impairment. What’s more, it is completely hearing aid compatible, which is great for 50% of those older than 75 who have hearing loss.

iPhone XS Max

iPhone XS

If you’re an older adult who enjoys user-friendly features, the iPhone XS Max is a great upgrade. With a large 6.5-inch retina display and advanced security features such as Face ID to unlock important applications and pay with Apple Pay, this device is a keeper. It’s also a great phone for taking photos of the family and grandkids, with impressive 12MP dual rear cameras and 7MP in the front. Plus, if your grandkid grabs your phone or accidentally drops it in water, this phone is fully water, splash, and dust-resistant. You can pay $31.95 per month for this device through an AT&T installment plan.

Additionally, thanks to its fast charge feature, users don’t have to constantly worry about their device running out of power. All of these advanced features might seem intimidating, especially for those uninitiated to the world of smartphones, but my favorite thing about the iPhone XS Max is how intuitive its controls are. Learning the ins and outs of this device is a breeze.

Note: If the older user is comfortable with their existing device, they can switch to AT&T’s wireless service on the same phone and get a $250 reward card and a waiver on the activation fee.

AT&T Benefits for Seniors

Here are some other benefits of an AT&T plan for seniors.

• Mobile Security and Call Protect app: This free app helps users avoid spam and fraud calls. It also enables safe browsing, identity monitoring, and more. It’s available with the AT&T Unlimited 55 & Over plan, amongst others.
• Mobile Protection:At just $15 per month for each mobile number that’s enrolled, AT&T offers same-day device replacement and setup for lost, stolen, and broken phones. There is a cheaper mobile insurance option ($8 per month) without the same day replacement feature, and a more expensive one ($40 per month) that covers up to 4 devices. I would really recommend going for the mid-range plan for greater value and peace of mind
• HBO Max: Available on select premium wireless plans is free access to the HBO Max entertainment channel. Especially if you go for one of the higher-priced plans, this is a great way to take advantage of your video streaming capabilities.

Bottom Line

When it comes to finding cellular solutions that are suited to older adults in North America, AT&T really takes the cake. Granted, AT&T’s plans are a bit on the pricier end of the spectrum, especially compared to Consumer Cellular whose basic plans start at just $15 per month. Still, AT&T’s plans targeted at older folks are still about $10 cheaper than that of most competitors.

AT&T’s speed, coverage area, and reliability more than make up for this premium. I will admit though that it was a little disappointing that a mobile emergency response device that AT&T had launched in 2013, called EverThere, was conspicuously absent from the list of devices being sold on the website. So if you’re looking for a phone with medical alert capabilities, I’d recommend checking out the Jitterbug Smart3 from Lively.

On the flip side, it’s quite refreshing to note that AT&T is one of the only players to still offer ‘no-frills’ call-only cell phone plans; for older adults who do not wish to use expensive (and sometimes frustrating to use) smartphones.

To learn more about our favorite phones and plans for seniors, check out our helpful guides:

• Senior Cell Phone Discounts
• Easiest Phones for Seniors
• Jitterbug Flip Review
• Cricket Wireless Review
• Consumer Cellular Phones and Plans for Seniors

FAQs

• Does AT&T offer a plan with just talk minutes?

  AT&T no longer offers plans with purely talk minutes. Their most affordable plans provide a minimum of 8GB of monthly data, as well as unlimited talk and texting.

• With AT&T wireless, can I keep my existing cell phone?

  With AT&T, you may keep your current device, even if it’s from another service provider, as long as it uses a SIM card. In exchange, typically, you get a free $250 reward card and the activation fee is also waived.

• How does AT&T verify the age of the applicant?

  To qualify for one of the age-specific plans, you need to go to an AT&T store with some form of identification in order to verify your eligibility.

• Do both phone line users need to be over 55?

  Only the account holder needs to be over the age of 55. The user of the other line can be younger.

• How many lines can I add on an AT&T 55+ plan?

  With AT&T, you may have up to two phone lines on the 55+ plan. You pay $40 per month for 2 lines.

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Published in 2004

63 years of mobile communications! — A life full of impressions

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• 04/05/2020

Yesterday, many publications and blogs published articles that mobile communications turned 47 years old (April 3, 1973, Motorola engineer Martin Cooper made the first call on a mobile phone from the streets of New York), but at that moment mobile communications worked in the USSR for ten years now (!). True, it did not work for everyone. I have in my hand the handset of the Altai mobile phone.

In fact, the first communication systems in cars appeared much earlier. Already in 1901, Guglielmo Marconi installed a transceiver on a steam car, and in 19In 33, police cars in the United States began to be equipped with walkie-talkies. In 1946, a mobile communication network was launched in America with manual frequency channel selection and communication through an operator. Communication worked in half-duplex mode, as in walkie-talkies.

In 1957, Soviet engineer L. I. Kupriyanovich created a prototype of the LK-1 mobile phone, which, unfortunately, did not go into serial production, but his Radiophone can be considered the first mobile phone.

Work on the automatic mobile communication system “Altai” began at 1958 year. Telephones and base stations were created at the Voronezh Research Institute of Communications (VNIIS). Antennas have been developed at the Moscow State Specialized Design Institute (GSPI). Enterprises from Leningrad, Belarus and Moldova also took part in the project.

The Altai system made it possible to use the phone in the car in the same way as a regular phone – you just had to pick up the receiver and dial the number. Communication worked in duplex mode, as in conventional phones.

Altai was mobile communication, but not cellular – there was only one base station for the whole city. In Moscow, it was first located on a high-rise building on Kotelnicheskaya embankment, and before the Olympics on 1980 years was moved to the Ostankino tower.

Initially, Altai operated at a frequency of 150 MHz and had 16 channels. In the whole city, only 16 subscribers could talk on a mobile phone at the same time.

In 1970, Altai worked in 30 cities, and by the mid-70s already in 114 cities of the Soviet Union.

Later, new radio channels were allocated (22 “trunks” of 8 channels each) in the 330 MHz band, this allowed 176 subscribers to talk at the same time.

The mobile phone consisted of several blocks. A block with a handset and dialing buttons was installed between the front seats.

In the trunk – a radio transmitter unit, on the roof of the car – an antenna.

In total, by the beginning of the 80s, the Altai system had about 25 thousand subscribers throughout the country. Mostly they were members of the government and officials.

All these dates (both 63 and 47 years) mark only the first calls for prototypes, but not mass products. The real cell phone is “only” 37 years old: on March 6, 1983, the world’s first commercial portable cell phone, the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X, was released. The phone cost $3995, weighed 794 grams and measured 33 x 4.4 x 8.9 cm. McKinsey concluded that in 2000 the market will be about 900,000 mobile phones and AT&T considered the mobile phone business not promising enough. Analysts were wrong 800 times, in 200 there were 738 million mobile subscribers.