Electronics

[Mz iMac]

Courtisy of our local PD department.

I live in a 55+ communitiy......

A few weeks ago, management sent around a survey to find out who had landlines and/or cell phones.

This morning there was a "meeting" in the community room.  There were 4 Santa Elves & 4 police officers present.   As we came into the room, an elf asked our name, checked a list & gave us a specific gift wrapped box.

The police told us to open the box.  We all got a cell phone.  Not everyone got the same phone.

The police explained we each got the kind of cell phone based on "our needs and/or wants."  On the survey I stated I would only use a cell for emergencies only.  I really have no need for one nor would I want to be tethered to one.  I text on a 30" desktop not on some teeny tiny screen.

I got this flip phone

and each elf were assigned to folks to show them how the phone works.

The phones, service, data, etc are all free.  Minutes switch over monthly.  They do not get deleted.  Flip phone came w/3000 minutes.  Each month 250 minutes will be added.  All we have to do is to make a call at least once a month.

I have the internet, Google browser, loaded apps including games, mp3 player, radio & texting.  The phone also has wifi & bluetooth. We thought this was some sort of joke/X-mas April Fools.  The elf & one of the police officers confirmed everything is FREE including the service - Trackphone.  My neighbor (who has a cell & not at the meeting) told me we all got Obama phones.

Others got Android smart phones w/large screens & their service is Sprint.  A few received iPhones.  I think their service is Trackphone.

A police office will come back the beginning of next year to instll larger SD cards (32gb) on those who did not get one today.  don't know how much little storage those phones have.  My 32GB card was already installed.

After the meeting, I read the manual front & back.  I am still learning.  I did sucessfully add my "contacts" & downloaded a GPS app which I will delete later.  I already have a Garmin.    The phone has a camera but you cannot take selfies.  Suits me just fine.

This evening, will practice making & receiving calls as well as pairing phone to my 2 DOTS.  I already enlarged the fonts.  Well actually, an elf did it for me & others.   None of us could see the microscopic print.

The only tenants at this "meeting" were folks like me who never had a cell phone.

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@SharkEYou mentioned this in another flip phone thread:

"My sister had one forced on her and no longer can she automatically look at her start up screen and see how many minutes she has left and when it's time to buy air time."

If your sister still has not found out:  Go to the browser icon.  The first screen that pops up is your minutes & service time left.

Took me 2 hours to figure that out.  Not in the user manual.  Had to go to YouTube tutorials on the comp. The elf did show us, but I had forgot & wasn't taking notes.

[GrailSeeker]

Wow!  That's very nice.

[NicksmomESQ]

Nice that your local police department is looking out for it's seniors.Sounds like a program that would benefit many people.

[SilleeMee]

That's wonderful @Mz iMac 

I have that exact same phone and it's with Tracfone, too.

Since I only use it for emergencies, I put it in Airplane Mode, turned off notifications and bluetooth. That way the battery lasts for months without recharging. 

[Mz iMac]

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@SilleeMee wrote:

Since I only use it for emergencies, I put it in Airplane Mode, turned off notifications and bluetooth. That way the battery lasts for months without recharging. 

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@SilleeMee  I was just reading about that feature.  Thanks for the heads up.  I think I am going to do that to.  The elf said that the battery will last for 8 straight days of continued usage w/o shutting the phone "off."

I already got rid of the icons grid line up.  I set it for "text/words" to scroll up & down instead of me criss-crossing, up & down finding icons & what they actually do--PITA on a small screen.  Set "text/words" in alphebetically order.  Saves time as I go directly to where I want w/o figuring out what"s what.

My original post OOPS........**Tracfone**

[SilleeMee]

One other thing I do is turn off the power until I need to use it. That will also save the battery. @Mz iMac 

[stevieb]

Wow, that's really nice. One does wonder, though, who's footing the bill for all that...

[Kachina624]

VERY nice, lucky you.  At least you can be assured it's not some kind of scam.

[sidsmom]

Yeah...I'm kinda/sorta reading this with 'raised eyebrow.'

What exactly was the reasoning behind the free phone/service?

I understand if you don't want to share, but it just sounds...unusual.

[Mz iMac]

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@stevieb wrote:

Wow, that's really nice. One does wonder, though, who's footing the bill for all that...

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@stevieb  I am assumming this......

I live in a casino state.  They supplement/contribute to "Senior" programs.

@sidsmom  See my comment above.  My "eyebrows" are still botoxed raised at this "gift." 

My complex was not the only one.  All the senior (62+) & 55+ complexes in my city got the same "gifts."  Not sure if it was county wide also. 

One of the tenants as we were leaving told the elves he wants an iPad Pro next year.