![[NSW] Telstra Lite 3G Prepaid $5 @ Coles, Liverpool](https://files.ozbargain.com.au/n/11/686711.jpg?h=92b79793)
Hey guys.
Got this for $5 locked onto Telstra
Great for any elderly users
Cheers
[NSW] Telstra Lite 3G Prepaid $5 @ Coles, Liverpool
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funnysht on 05/03/2022 - 11:38 files.ozbargain.com.au (787 clicks)
Last edited 05/03/2022 - 13:26 by 2 other users
Last edited 05/03/2022 - 13:26 by 2 other users
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And when does 3G network close?
June 2024
2024, but I suspect an extension to 2026.
I work with a few telco services, and Telstra/Optus just arent going to accept the loss of such a big chunk of their coverage.
Covid threw a 2 year delay into the tower upgrade rollout; If they dont argue to get a 2 year extension on that frequency approval, i'll be surprised.
Disagree, I am directly involved in the rollout and covid didn't put much of a delay at all, certainly not 2 years worth. The spectrum being used is already being reused for 5G.
Telstra have a good record of upgrading hold-out customers when networks close. Though the models provided are usually pretty trash.
Most holdout customers will be industrial customers with IoT devices.
Why is there an assumption that something crap like this is “Great for any elderly users”.
This is great for NOBODY.
For ppl who have trouble with swiping etc
Perhaps not everyone is abled as yourself budI don't think there's anybody who has trouble with swiping on a large display smartphone vs pressing keys on a tiny number pad attached to a minuscule display on a dumb phone.
I guess this might be okay if it's for someone who only wants to do calls, but surely that's limited by the device only supporting 3G?
There are.. there are lots of people that cant.
@funnysht: My point was that this device wouldn’t really be suitable for someone who had any physical difficulties using a mobile phone - the screen and buttons are too small.
@BargainGeezer: Disablities come in all shapes and sizes ..some ppl have fine touch but just can't comprehend using aps etc or touch screen.
@funnysht: And can be any age, not just elderly.
Getting tired of these agiest posts and the assumptions by low iq people.
@quog: The optimism, invincibility or ignorance of the young👶
Most don't realise how quickly that things we take for granted can be lost (though road trauma, illness, etc)!
And then there's loss of ability for many with age.Time changes us all, eventually👴
@BargainGeezer: Outright bull.
I know a kid with zombie finger syndrome, who can accurately solder SMD chips and do TINY work all day.
These sorts of phones are GREAT because they have literally no need for capacitive touch.
Helping out in aged care facilities - found many elderly & disabled had difficulty with smart phones vs keypad phones.
One well meaning (younger) relative had given their 90yo grandmother a new Samsung. They never considered her needs & limitations!
Relatives rarely visited - so hoped she would use video calls…
Too large & hard for her to hold, too complex to use, too worried it would be lost or damaged - she stopped using it! Found her trusty flip phone, installed the SIM - she was so happy!Someone negged this observed reality? Guess they don't think that could ever happen to them😂
@INFIDEL: Some have trouble with phones that have "call" and "hang up" keys if they've been using corded phones all their lives. Some learnt behaviours with cordless phones don't apply either: pressing "call" before dialling or hanging up by placing the phone on the charging cradle.
I can't say, I ever met anyone that could only use rotary dial phones. I wonder if that's the case for anyone. I did know someone who couldn't deal with IVR systems.
@Stingo: Yes, use of call/hang-up can be a problem for some to master.
Not lifting / replacing the handset when making calls can take some getting used to if never used a mobile (like my Father, who refused to use a mobile, but used a cordless phone at home).
There were standard style phones available which use a SIM. (Not sure if still available.) So operated like a normal home phone, they were more used to. Some others came with a pendant to press in emergency.
Often "home" phones can be installed in resident's rooms in aged care facilities. Can be expensive to install, may use VOIP, and of course use keypads.
Don't think too many would now be used to rotary dials! They were phased out decades ago.
But in old age, many revert to older ways, like their first language. Never seen anyone try to "ring" a number like they were on a rotary phone.In an old country house, found a wind up style phone on the wall (along with wind up gramophone)! But no one had lived there since the 1960's - based on the phone directory. There were even biscuits in the jar!
A younger blind man I assisted, had no major problems with a keypad phone, but had a frustrating experience using voice commands on his mobile to make calls. Had hoped that would be an ideal solution.
He went back to keypad he was used to. Needed assistance with rare SMS messages.There were standard style phones available which use a SIM. So operated like a normal home phone, they were more used to.
These still have call keys from what I've seen. Alternatives like 3G fixed wireless terminals just use a simple time out which can also be a problem for people that hesitate for too long while dialling. While some might be able to have the timeouts increased that will add post-dial delay which won't make for a great user experience. In my opinion you need something that can be configured with a dial plan.
Don't think too many would now be used to rotary dials! They were phased out decades ago.
I had one dating from the '60s on one of my extensions with a long enough cord to reach into the bathroom. Was working before the PSTN was switched off. Unfortunately, it was useless when encountering an IVR. I assume most people would have been forced to get a DTMF phone because of encountering IVRs but I reckon there would have been the odd hold out.
In an old country house, found a wind up style phone (along with wind up gramophone)! But no one had lived there since the 1960's - based on the phone directory.
There were still manual exchanges in the 80s in some places. Wind up gramophones are excellent for off-grid living. I wonder if that one could handle LP's? Kero lamps? Coolgardie safe?
There were even biscuits in the jar!
Anzac biscuits might still be good. :-)
@Stingo: Found it wasn't too hard to train people to use the call/hang-up buttons on keypad mobiles. Gave out a simple laminated set of instructions to follow - in large print with diagram of their phone. Made them more confident & happy.
All a matter of paying attention to the needs & capability of the person. Not seeing everyone as the same. Had a reputation for that in training.
Had an old black bakelite rotary dial for a long time. Sold it.
Yes, when PSTN was switched off - no longer worked. But could be adapted to digital dialling… with a lot of work. I built digital circuits back then.
An old Cornish miners cottage in rural SA, with very low doors.
Plenty of old 78s - invited friends who were planting trees nearby. Had a very different party, then put back the dust covers & secured the property as I found it. Amazing furniture.Tried a biscuit - Arnotts & only suitable if starving. Of course, LPs couldn't play at correct speed (33.33 vs 78) on early gramophone & would soon be wrecked.
There are still MVNOs that haven't enabled VoLTE (voice on 4G) so 3G only support is not an issue for calls but somewhat of an issue for SMS,
Found it wasn't too hard to train people to use the call/hang-up buttons.
Any failures?
Had an old black bakelite rotary dial … could be adapted to digital dialling … with a lot of work.
There are more expensive inline solutions available. The Dialgizmo even has a hacky way of dialling the '*' and '#' keys as well as last number redial and 6 speed dials some of which the cheaper circuit boards designed for in-phone placement also support. Some ATAs can also handle pulse dialling but I'm not aware if any support these dialling hacks.
An old Cornish miners cottage in rural SA, with very low doors.
They were short.
Agreed. My dad could not swipe on a screen. i dont know why he just never could figure out moving his finger around the screen. And he always thought it was pressure sensitive. Pressing way to had where it wouldn't work. And neither could a few other elderly people we knew
Well, why did you help him?
Seems a little selfish of you.
Its the keypad that makes it easier to use for many elderly & disabled users.
Despite training a blind user to use voice commands on a smart phone, after much frustration, he went back to the keypad mobile he was used to.
Keypads were designed with disability in mind.
So much on a smart phone relies on sight. And sight usually fails with age!
Keys are easier to find & always in the same place on a keypad style phone.Many prefer to stay with what they are used to using - the keypad.
My Father had near perfect sight @98, but refused to use a mobile phone at all - as he had never used a mobile, computer or even a VCR!That's garbage. My 87yo MIL simply cannot use a smart phone. There are many many people who similarly cannot.
These are also great for your noncompliant teenager
Make them too embarrassed to leave the house?
The menu/interface and use of keys on this thing is dreadful. Used one temporarily after I smashed a smartfone
Great price for a burner. Does it include a starter kit? Can it be used on Telstra MVNOs without unlocking or its locked to Telstra/Boost a standard thing these days. Could it actually be eligible for a free unlock given its age? Disgusting that Telstra or Coles don't label "Use By June 2024" on these.
Better Call Saul! Saul Goodman would be all over this!
I'm imagining a bowl in his office full of these instead of mints. Criminal Lawyer? No, criminal Lawyer.
Had to teach several of my elderly extended family how to use a touch screen because they had trouble with this tiny 2" screen. Upgraded to 6"+ screens with text set to large.
Honestly Google Assistant helps the most as I've set up all contacts all they have to say is "Hey Google Call X". Grandma took a fall and voice commands allowed her to call for help which a dumb phone can't do.
Obviously YMMV but being able to call and message without having to even touch the device was exactly what they needed
Actually, plenty of phones in the past supported voice tags that you could associate with entries in the contact list. You'd typically need to press at least a key to kick off the search as I can't recall any actively listening all the time. Does Google stop listening when the phone is locked? Probably, many if not most of these "dumb" phones were more premium models and would have been considered smart phones until phones with touch screens came out and largely redefined the term but I seem to recall the feature on some pretty dumb phones.
Yes, used a GSM Ericson mobile nearly 20 years ago that had voice command. Handy when driving. Press button, say name, press button at end of call. Never made a mistake, but command storage was limited.
Yeah simple voice commands have existed for years if you action it yourself by pressing a button.
However, when you've taken a fall and your phone is in range of your voice but not in arms reach what good is that?
Google Assistant (and Siri) are activated by the keywords "Hey Google/Siri" even while locked. Only if it's got a pin/fingerprint/pattern you'll need to enter that to proceed.
As I said, not for everyone but certainly worked well in this instance.
Only if it's got a pin/fingerprint/pattern you'll need to enter that to proceed.
Which is pretty common, so you'd still be stuffed in that case. There are ways of disabling locking within a "geofence" defined by reach of Bluetooth or WiFi signal though. An emergency keyword would be useful as would falls detection.
Which is pretty common, so you'd still be stuffed in that case
Ummm just to confirm we are still talking about elderly? Don't know if these old phones even had a lock screen and if they did, they were very seldom used.
Of course if you're trying to tell people 80+ years old they have to remember this certain pattern to unlock their phones every time you'll find problems when they can barely (or can't) use a touch screen.
@decc0: Found most didn't lock these basic phones - no real need with unlimited call plans. Only costly issue is if they dial overseas, which can be blocked.
@INFIDEL: There are still people on PAYG plans but regardless pocket dialling can be very annoying for the receiver. My phone once just kept pocket dialling the number of the first entry in my contacts list. I think that was a touch screen phone.
Ummm just to confirm we are still talking about elderly? Don't know if these old phones even had a lock screen and if they did, they were very seldom used.
Sure they did. Most people just used the simple lock which consists of pressing a couple of keys for unlocking to prevent pocket dialling. Phones also supported locking with a security code which would be more rarely used.
@Stingo: Maybe your grandma is an advanced techno and paranoid but mine wouldn't bother??
Stop trying to push this into another direction in a desperate attempt to validate your point for a completely different demographic.
@decc0: Just responding to the short comings of your posts. Not denying that the voice recognition on smart phones is useful or deprecating your efforts to help elderly members of your family. You've found a solution that works, great!
Home style phones (possibly using SIM) are available, with a pendant you wear to press in emergency.
There are fall detection apps (tested long ago - were pretty useless then).
And dedicated emergency pendant services are very useful - if the person wears & presses the button.
But, great tech may not be of help if the user doesn't want to use it.
People have died or became seriously ill after fall, when they forgot or refused to wear / press pendant to call for help.Found relative I was caring for, washing blood off the pendant, rather than pressing the button which would have brought me running & an ambulance called. He didn't want to make a fuss - as blood poured from his neck after minor surgery!! He was near collapse & not thinking clearly.
Sometimes phone tech might not help.
20 something neighbour died recently. His illness meant he could not communicate he was in great pain. He may not have even understood.
Only noticed when the lack of oxygen showed in his blue lips. No one had expected that, to realise he needed monitoring. Was devastating for his mother who had dedicated her life to care for him.Several relatives were found collapsed on floor - days later. One died. We don't need to be old for that to happen.
Sometimes phone tech might not help. 20 something neighbour died recently.
Very sad. Technology cannot fix all ills.
Was devastating for his mother who had dedicated her life to care for him.
I hope she's not blaming herself.
@Stingo: Tech can be handy, but temperamental.
Was asked for advice last week for fitness band to monitor heart problems of client's daughter. She is disabled, in assisted living away from anxious mother. I recommended discussing with Daughter's specialist. Bands are not medical equipment, may give wrong indication or fail to work correctly at crucial time.
Very hard not to blame ourselves, even when not our fault. It can affect us for years. We chatted a week ago. She never expected him to die first.
My first client was training for the Olympics for Australia. I like to understand their motivation. It helped me direct successful people to be more successful.
His drive for an Olympic medal came from the undeserved guilt he felt about his sportsman Father's death. He needed a medal "to make up for the loss". But he didn't realise that. But healing that, could cost Australia a potential medal!
@INFIDEL: I appreciate the input really although my whole extended family is determined to be independent. Calling family to say "I've had a slip" they'd do but unfortunately they wouldn't bother calling emergency services because of "the fuss" you mentioned
Sure we can call on their behalf but they wouldn't do it on their own :/
@decc0: It's a dilemma I know well!
After years of caring for fiercely independent relatives (who never asked for or wanted help), I now live by myself. With no one determinedly checking on me, I've realised how vulnerable I could be.
Wonderful neighbours are used to me being overseas for months - they wouldn't notice if I was next door, incapacitated. So now keeping them updated. Independence can be deadly.Working on solutions.
Considering an emergency pendant or app on phone. And keeping phone near at all times.Trialling https://www.deadmantracker.com/ which sends out email (with last known location) if I haven't responded to the app within set time. Handy when travelling.
Trialling https://www.deadmantracker.com/
While descriptive, it doesn't really seem the most appealing choice of name for a product. Seems reasonably priced and there is a free option as well. I wish all such products were priced that way.
I don't have any personal experience but my impression is that Daktel make some decent products. I'm not aware of whether they have an AU reseller. They do rent their fixed line replacement product together with a phone service with optional pendent and monitoring via their Australian subsidiary myhomephone.com.au
@Stingo: Deadmantracker is based on very old idea of safety "dead man switch". Those were designed to disable machines (eg train) if user fails to respond.
In this case, an email (sms in paid service) is sent to emergency contacts if user fails to respond to messages sent by the service.
Provides tracker - sends last known location user replied from. That's of little use for many elderly, but handy for travellers. But when user is away from internet, may cause unnecessary concern. Message warns of that.
Am using the free service. Sent my home address as last location. But was travelling during floods & I didn't respond.
Better just to keep in regular contact.
Foreign Correspondent on ABC last week featured a Japanese phenomenon of Hikikomori ("shut-ins"). Young people who live their lives only communicating online.
Similarly, 40k/yr elderly are dying alone in apartments. It may take years for some to be discovered. Something I am very aware of on my travels there. Spent time with homeless & the dying there, chatting & distributing free clothes (collected from Foreigners working there).
Pride or shame seems to stop them keeping in touch with families. But they seem to find the informality of Foreigners easy to open up to. There is little like Lifeline or counselling to help. It's a formal culture with rigid rules & ceremonies, rather than chatting. Elderly in Hokkaido have been reported to be shoplifting, just to have someone to talk with!
So am interested to find a suitable solution, but it's very cultural & seemingly intransigent.
Here we often just warehouse our elderly in aged care facilities…
Giving them safety & ease of contact in their home, while maintaining independence would be better.A $5 phone could help out. But locked to Telstra might make it expensive to use!
Deadmantracker is based on very old idea of safety "dead man switch". Those were designed to disable machines (eg train) if user fails to respond.
Yes, I'm aware of that but I think the name will put some people off even if they are familiar with the idea which as you know is still in use today.
Spent time with homeless & the dying there, chatting & distributing free clothes (collected from Foreigners working there).
Gaijin cooties!
Elderly in Hokkaido have been reported to be shoplifting, just to have someone to talk with!
They will certainly get a chat, and improve their chances of getting free room and board in a secure facility as well as meeting lots of new people if they are repeat offenders.
You're certainly a thoughtful person. I bet you have some interesting stories to tell. Japan is an interesting place. I've only scratched the surface myself.
@Stingo: As Japanese are generally polite, it takes far longer to really get to know people there.
They often say I show great respect & understanding. That is usually followed by "but you'll never be Japanese".
I mainly spend time in rural areas. Hitchhiking is a way of being invited into people's lives. With it, there are no strict social rules, meaning I am considered their "new friend" in just a ride. We have such a great time, but embarrassingly they think I should be given gifts (eg us$200)!
And spend time with older people who enjoy sharing their lives. They have the time. It makes them feel proud that someone is interested in them. (I am.) Done that in many countries.
Jay took a day to open up that he was dying. I organised a dinner for him with 15 Foreigners. The experience was so overwhelming for him. He was so happy he called me "Buddha"!
A woman (maybe 90) on a tiny island in Okinawa, was so thrilled that a Foreigner was interested in how she prepared shellfish she harvested - she spun the car wheels as she left.It's a gift of time. Totally enjoyable!
The deadmantracker is in case something goes wrong on my travels. Once was put in detention by military & finally deported! I just don't fit the mould of a tourist. These days it's more likely locals don't want me to leave!
They often say I show great respect & understanding. That is usually followed by "but you'll never be Japanese".
As I understand it, the theory is that you can be Japanese if you speak (and I suppose read) the language at the level of a native speaker and practise the customs perfectly e.g. give the right melon at the right time. In practise though there is still xenophobia. I'm going to assume you've received a compliment but just what they're complimenting I have no idea.
I assume you must be reasonably fluent in Japanese for these interactions. Do you hitchhike in Australia and do a similar things?
It's a gift of time.
Which is reciprocal so no need for it to be repaid later in Japan!
Once was put in detention by military & finally deported!
The best I can do was having a bunch of Germans with machine guns gathering together and looking at me while the operator of the x-ray machine requested that I empty out everything from my back pack so he could re-scan all the contents separately. Turns out that old camera flash units look a bit suss on a x-ray - well at least that machine operator thought so, it wasn't an issue elsewhere. It was probably more amusing than intimidating since they weren't pointing their guns at me or threatening me directly that I can recall but I certainly made an effort to be friendly and cooperative.
These days it's more likely locals don't want me to leave!
Nice.
The current Telstra 4G-capable button phone is the Telstra Lite 2 for $29 from Coles until 8/3/2022. It was as cheap as $9 from JB Hi-Fi.
if the $10 sim is still valid maybe its worth it. you may be able to get free calls for a month and a bonus 25gb data for the telstra flood disaster relief via chat added after activation . but im not sure if any at $5 are left in QLD ?
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