Oct. 25, 2008
Hello Jitterbug.com Visitors
Thanks for stopping by to take a look at our Jitterbug offering. You should find all the
important information you need to help you understand the value of Jitterbug’s phones and
services and to buy if you like what you see. Here are some easy links to other spots on
our website.
Phones,
Rate Plans, Frequently Asked Questions,
Store locator, buy here.
Please don’t hesitate to send me a message after reviewing our information if you have any
questions, comments, or suggestions. I value your input.
Click here to send me an email.
Jitterbug is the perfect gift for loved ones who may never have
had a cellular phone or who may just be suffering from the feature fatigue that so many
experience. Our whole offering has been formulated to simplify calling and provide the features
needed for great cellular phone service - to keep loved ones connected for safety and the
convenience that portable communications offers.
The Silver Anniversary of U.S. Cellular Service, some history, and the genesis of Jitterbug
2008 marks the 25th year of cellular service in this country. On October 13, 1983, the first
commercial cellular telephone phone call was made from Soldiers Field in Chicago. This was a
momentous occasion and the beginning of a revolution – a tribute to American enterprise with now
over 260 million with cellular phones in service. In 1983, most cellular phones were in two
parts; Briefcase sized electronics were installed in the trunks of cars with wiring to the drivers
seat where there was a home sized phone unit bolted nearby. They cost over $3000 including
installation. If you had a portable, you paid about $4000 then; it weighed over a pound and could
be talked on for only about 30 minutes after a full battery charge. Customers were typically business
people who worked in the field or those who wanted to make better use of their commute time.
Very few consumers had cellular phones. It wasn’t until the late 1990’s that consumers started
to adopt wireless technology – by that time, the new cordless home phone had helped teach consumers
about the freedom to communicate on the move that wireless provides.
In the early 90’s, the federal government granted more radio frequencies that could be used for
cellular service. The resulting competition improved both pricing and service quality. Consumers
discovered a natural interest to become free of wire. The price of portable phones, and their size
and weight, came down. More and more consumers began adopting wireless service for the safety,
convenience and independence it offered. The early portable phones were similar in size and function
to home phones. As technology advanced, services were enhanced and phones became smaller, lighter,
and more loaded up with functions, buttons and new methods. Besides talking to people, phone
technology is now used for text messages, email, games, photography, internet browsing and even for viewing TV.
By 2004, it was time for an offering like Jitterbug. We developed Jitterbug to make sure those who
had not become cellular customers or those who were not happy with more complicated phones would have
a choice – a choice, first and foremost, to have a GREAT PHONE AND APPROPRIATE SERVICE! We set out to
make everything simpler and friendlier - essentially going back to basics. Jitterbug service takes the
familiar comforts of home service (like dial-tone to let you know you can make a call), adds a few of
the really neat things cellular technology could do (like a rapid dialing from a contact list) and
added the crème de la crème of personal service, operators who know your name and helpful information
and can make calls for you, manage your phone service and more.
But after 25 years of cellular, service costs still average about $50 per month. This cost can be
burdensome, in particular, for occasional callers who often pay for service they don’t want, need or use.
Our friendly Jitterbug service, by contrast, is very cost effective. Jitterbug service starts at just
$10 per month with a variety of simple pricing options. Many people, in these troubled times are
struggling and cutting back expenses. Jitterbug’s lower cost service allows almost anyone to enjoy the peace
of mind and convenience of having a cellular phone for those occasional calls. Some of the other unique
advantages of Jitterbug include a special simplified voicemail service, your own myjitterbug.com
personalized account that let’s you update your phone through entries on the site, friendly policies -
like no contracts and an important 30 day trial period. We also love to give our customers rewards for
referring new customers – what a great vote of confidence!
So there you have it - my little story about how Jitterbug came to be and how and why we became so
energized by the possibilities of serving you, your neighbors and loved ones. We are so very blessed
to live in this country of freedom and opportunity – to be unencumbered from doing the best we can.
I hope you’ll give us a chance to do our best for you.
Kind regards,
Arlene Harris Co-Founder, Chairman of the Board of Directors GreatCall, creator of Jitterbug
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