GreatCall, Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., today announced "Jitterbug,"
a unique combination of handset and service with unprecedented simplicity.
Jitterbug is targeted towards baby boomers and their parents who seek the
freedom that cellular technology offers without the complexity of current
handsets and service. The announcement comes on the 33rd anniversary of the
introduction of the first portable cell phone by Martin Cooper in New York City
on April 3, 1973.
GreatCall was founded by industry veteran Arlene Harris, who has been called "The
First Lady of Wireless." Prior to founding GreatCall, Harris was founder and CEO
of the SOS emergency phone, a highly regarded cellular phone service for older
safety oriented consumers. Cooper, who is Harris’ husband and business partner,
worked with her to help Jitterbug achieve a simplicity that makes cellular
service accessible to new classes of consumers.
Samsung, with its mobile phone technology leadership, and GreatCall, with its
strong heritage of serving the target audience, make a natural partnership for
creating Jitterbug and bringing it to market.
Samsung developed the Jitterbug handset with GreatCall’s conceptual idea, using
its sophisticated technology and inspired leadership to make Jitterbug as simple
as a cell phone experience can be. The phones feature larger buttons,
easy-to-read text, a comfortable ergonomic shape and an ear cushion for better
sound quality. Jitterbug personalized services include an easy way to retrieve
messages, a live operator for call-related support, and toll free secure access
to a personal phone list from any phone.
"Jitterbug fills some very important needs for boomers and their parents," said
Tim Bajarin, President, Creative Strategies, Inc. "Our extensive research on ‘The
Digital Family’ shows that boomers want to help their parents enjoy all the
benefits that technology can contribute to bringing families closer together,
without putting them through the angst of learning high tech devices they don’t
feel comfortable with. Boomers also are seeking innovative ways to provide
well-being support remotely. Jitterbug helps fulfill both objectives with its
natural, intuitive interface of both handset and service."
Jitterbug phones and personalized services will be test-marketed in select areas
throughout the summer. They will be available through the Jitterbug website
(www.gojitterbug.com) after Labor Day. Starting immediately, people may register
on the website to receive more information on ordering Jitterbug as it becomes
available, and to provide comments and suggestions.
"Our dream, 33 years ago, was to bring the freedom of true mobile technology to
all consumers," said Martin Cooper. "Jitterbug brings us a step closer to
fulfilling that dream. We’ve made it possible for disenfranchised users to
simply make and receive phone calls reliably. Jitterbug provides advanced
technology delivered in an uncomplicated way – just everything safety and
simplicity minded customers want and nothing they don’t."
"It takes sophisticated technology to make Jitterbug so simple," said Arlene
Harris, "which is why it took a technology leader like Samsung to achieve our
goals. Jitterbug has everything you need to manage your own phone experience for
comfort and well-being, and to manage the phone experience of your parents or
other loved ones as well. For example, if your mother doesn’t want voicemail on
her cell phone, it won’t be there to confuse her.
"Jitterbug is about your ability to say, ‘what do you think of this, mom?’"
Harris continued. "You only turn on the feature if she wants it and if she
decides later that she doesn’t like it, you turn it off again. It’s about
knowing that if your mom or dad wants personal help, with a push of a button, a
live operator answers by name and asks if help is needed to connect a call or
retrieve a message. And having the comfort of knowing your loved one’s phone
battery is working, because if it’s not, Jitterbug services have several ways to
keep users informed."
In addition to a conventional 12-button direct dial model, Jitterbug also offers
a model with three oversized buttons. This model is especially useful to very
low use, safety-oriented users, especially older or disabled consumers. A user
has the same live operator call-related assistance button. A direct dial 911
button calls for traditional emergency service. The other button can be custom
programmed for the service a person most wants readily at hand, ranging from tow
service to reception at their assisted living center or an in-case-of-emergency
number.
The GreatCall and Samsung Partnership: Commitment to Simplicity
The GreatCall partnership is a key example of Samsung’s strategy of working with
its partners to understand the needs of each distinct segment of mobile phone
users and then to use the most sophisticated technology to create devices to fit
those needs.
GreatCall approached Samsung to design the Jitterbug handset because Harris and
Cooper believed that Samsung was uniquely qualified with the necessary
sophisticated technology and the visionary leadership needed to participate in
the creation of a total service experience. In return, Samsung saw the
opportunity to go beyond simple handset design to achieve a larger goal of
serving an entire "well-being" role for baby boomers and their aging parents.
"We continuously make our best effort to provide our customers with more
user-friendly and more enjoyable mobile phones. Our design philosophy, initiated
by Mr.KunHee Lee, is that the design should not only be visually attractive but
also contribute the ease of use for customers," said Kitae Lee, President of
Samsung’s Telecommunications Business. "From the very beginning we have thought
of this as ‘the well-being phone’ providing peace of mind – giving people who
care about a simpler experience for themselves and their aging parents. We’ve
achieved a way to help them with greater life satisfaction while also enhancing
their wellness support. This is an excellent example of how Samsung can use its
technology leadership to serve organizations like GreatCall who provide not just
a product, but important human services."
About GreatCall
GreatCall was founded by Arlene Harris, 45 year veteran in wireless and creator
of the highly regarded SOS emergency phone and Martin Cooper, the father of the
first portable cellular phone. GreatCall’s vision is to connect people with
family and friends when they are away from home by providing a simple phone and
personalized service that works the way they want it to. The company’s support
and systems are centered on simplicity, personalization and an emphasis on
convenience and comfort. GreatCall is located in Del Mar, CA. For more
information, please visit www.GreatCall.com. www.gojitterbug.com.
About Samsung
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor,
telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2005
parent company sales of US$56.7 billion and net income of US$7.5 billion.
Employing approximately 128,000 people in over 90 offices in 51 countries, the
company consists of five main business units: Digital Appliance Business,
Digital Media Business, LCD Business, Semiconductor Business and
Telecommunication Network Business. Recognized as one of the fastest growing
global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory
chips, mobile phones, and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.
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