An elderly relative wants to have a mobile phone but has never owned or used one before, nor are they confident or competent at using technology in general i.e. they have never owned or used a computer, digital stb, or even a VCR! I have been tasked with finding a mobile phone they would actually be able to use.

I doubt this person would ever get beyond using the phone to make calls and at most perhaps storing a few regularly used numbers. I suspect it won't even be used for texts so camera's, music, images, hd displays, full keyboards and all the other typical mobile phone gimmicks would be pointless here. I just need a real simple, back to basics mobile phone, if such things still exist?

In terms of budget we are really only looking to spend around £30 max as it shouldn't cost much for such a basic spec considering how advanced (even cheap) mobile are now. As it will be a gift we would prefer to buy the phone new as opposed to second hand i.e. on eBay.

Also looking for suggestions on places to buy as I know very little about mobile retailers so links to good deals at onlines stores greatly appreciated.

Many thanks for reading, all contributions welcome!

I know you said your budget was 30 pound but the Emporia TALK premium is made for the elderly or people with poor eyesight. Its £110 from asda it will be sim free.

http://www.asdamobile.com/pay-as-you...html?i=6019921

Failing that, your best bet is to go into thecarphonewarehouse say and have a look at the basic phones, try and get one with the biggest buttons, biggest screen and a very clear GREEN and RED dial and hangup buttons.

what about this one

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...er/5184433.htm

I bought this for my dad as his eyesight isnt what it used to be. He said its extremely easy to use, the buttons are nice and big, the screen is extremely clear, plus it does things like sms.

The menu is all icon based with text at the top so the user always knows what they are selecting, plus the fonts are huge so its easy to see names and numbers.

At 15 quid u cant go wrong.

There was something similar in yesterdays Mail On Sunday but about half the price. Can't check as I'm at work but if you (OP) want to know more can look tonight.

was it something like the Doro phone easy 338???? i think they are about £80. But they may do cheaper ones.

May have been, I'll check tonight.

Thanks for the replies. I've decided to go with this one from Argos, reserved it for pick up tomorrow. Just noticed that it says the phone needs to be purchased with £10 airtime. This isn't a problem as we did want to put some credit on for the person. Just want to be sure that will be PAYG? Definately don't want to be getting into any kind of contract with it.

yes it will but take a look at this in carphone warehouse ive had a vodafone branded before and it was very poor compaired to nokia plus ive just got this phone and the numbers are big on the screen too http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/mob...ariffNetworks=

or this one for a fiver!! http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/mob...ariffNetworks=

well £15, as you gotta have £10 talk time.

Crafty

It's on page 65 of yesterdays Mail on Sunday:

http://www.premieredition.co.uk/I-E905/?Media=C3513

Very similar to the Asda phone, but cheaper at £59.95.

Well actually changed my mind and went with the £5 Nokia. Always found them to be good solid phones in the past and £5 is simply unbeatable!

I know you have to add £10 top up but the Argos one was the same terms, so would have been £25, and as far as I can see it really isn't a problem, who wants to buy a phone with no credit anyway, it would be practically useless, only possible scenario I can see is if you are on a contract or want to transfer an existing PAYG account.

cant go wrong with nokia and a steal at £5!!!

ive just bought the £20 one as i have broken my nokia 5800 and it has every feature my £200 5800 has even email!!!!

Box breakers do. Its because of them the networks charge the min top up fee when buying a payg phone

I dont think you can go wrong for a fiver! How the hell do they do it, i mean cost of parts, labour, marketing, packaging, shipping, then carphonewarehouse have to make a profit on the thing!!!! Its insane.

Tesco do a phone thats designed for older folk, or at least they used to. Its got giant buttons and a simple display.

Phone arrived yesterday. I've set it up with the sim card in (Virgin, £10 credit). It recognises the sim card ok but says I have no credit, plus I actually tried to make a call on it and a voice came on telling me I had no credit.

Have they made a mistake or is there something I have to do to get the credit I paid for onto the phone other than inserting the sim?

Sorry if I'm missing something obvious but never bought a phone this way before (always got an empty sim and then added credit myself in the past).