Being old is the worst, right? Look, I’m just a few months off 25 and I can already feel the creaks and cracks in my spine, although that might just be because I sit in the shape of a crudely carved boomerang.
It’s not all just aches and pains though, the crippling isolation and loneliness can also be extremely taxing on the elderly mind. If you’ve experienced any of those emotions during lockdown then just imagine how brutal it must be when you’re 90 years old and can barely leave your comfy recliner. It’s with this depressing image in mind that Vodacom has announced the Alcatel 2019G phone, a device designed specifically for folks that battle with technology.
It’s not just for old folks though, it’s for everyone that might battle with modern devices. In the press release sent out by Vodacom, the Alcatel 2019 will support a larger than usual keyboard and a “simple user interface with big icons” to accommodate visually impaired consumers. Of course, keeping everything as simple as possible is a win for old folks too; given how so many apps seem to be making their text sizes smaller and smaller, I think we could all use some of those “big icons”.
“Some of our senior citizens have been consistent in their feedback to us – they prefer a device with a large keypad. In line with our purpose pillar of creating an inclusive digital society, the introduction of the Alcatel 2019 series helps us make sure no one is left behind. As we move into the digital age, we want to make sure all segments of our market migrate into this new digital world,” says Karen Smit, Vodacom Principal Specialist for Specific Needs.
The Alcatel 2019G will retail at R649 cash or through “reduced monthly subscriptions on certain contracts” and comes with a dedicated charging dock, SOS emergency function, torch, 16 hours of talk time, 2MP rear camera and a wireless FM radio, a medium largely only supported by old folks and people who drive around a lot and haven’t discovered podcasts. We’ve got a brief table below on the different packages you can pick up for the Alcatel 2019G:
| SPECIFIC NEEDS: ALCATEL 2019G + 200SMS X 24 @ R139 Reduced Sub PM on Smart XS + |
| SPECIFIC NEEDS: ALCATEL 2019G + 200SMS X 24 @ R139 Reduced Sub PM on uChoose Flexi 175 |
| SPECIFIC NEEDS: ALCATEL 2019G + 200SMS X 24 @ R169 Reduced Sub PM on Smart Top Up XS + |
| SPECIFIC NEEDS: ALCATEL 2019G + 200SMS X 24 @ R189 Reduced Sub PM on uChoose Flexi 230 |
| SPECIFIC NEEDS: ALCATEL 2019G + 200SMS X 24 @ R289 Reduced Sub PM on uChoose Flexi 390 |
| SPECIFIC NEEDS: ALCATEL 2019G + 200SMS X 24 @ R59 Reduced Sub PM on uChoose Flexi 65 |
| SPECIFIC NEEDS: ALCATEL 2019G + 200SMS X 24 @ R99 Reduced Sub PM on uChoose Flexi 125 |