Can you use a jitterbug phone on an AT

[Slm456]

My mother prefers the jitterbug phone. Can she use hers on an AT&T plan? If not, what phones are easy for seniors to use?

[ATTCares · Accepted solution]

Hi, @Sim456,

We'd love to help with this. We don't believe Jitterbug phones are compatible with AT&T's system. There is a way to check, though. If you have the IMEI number of the phone, you can check its compatibility with the system yourself.

Have a great week!

James, AT&T Community Specialist

[sbon74]

Curious if you found out if your mother's Jitterbug phone will work with AT&T?  I had no choice but to switch my mom to a smartphone, and even getting the easiest to use available on their network, she still has a hard time with it a year later.  I would prefer to be able to purchase an unlocked jitterbug phone and move it to the AT&T network instead of switching networks.

[craigsscout]

I purchased a Jitterbug smart 2 phone and the AT&T tech help was helpLESS as well as the Jitterbug tech.  Really disappointed that they were clueless.  Can not believe that AT&T at least provide their techs with info regarding the jitterbug phones.  By the way I entered the IMEI number and it said the phone was compatible with AT&T.  So misinformation there.  We spent 2 plus hours trying to make it work.  Got text messages but then they would disappear and the phone hang up during set up then would finally give an error code 5.  Which was not determined what that meant.   Initial chat support was very helpful tho, and agreed that the phone was compatible according the IMEI number, but could not get the phone to respond remotely.  Directed us to "advanced tech department" with was VERY DISAPPOINTING.  I am sure there are a lot of older folks out there who have tried as I have and it would seem that the techs should have some information as to whether the phone will work or not. 

[ApKay77]

We set my elderly neighbor up w/a jitterbug. Lucked out & got a super good tech. The Jitterbug phone is proprietary to Great  Call - no other carrier can activate it/provide service. The reason the phone will show that it’s compatible w/another carrier (AT&T, Verizon, etc.) is because Great Call uses those carriers towers to bounce the signals off of, so phone needs to be able to use those signals.  In my area, the signal bounces off the Verizon network, in other areas it may be different, but my neighbor’s never had a problem getting a signal.  Hope this helps. 

[ApKay77]

We set my elderly neighbor up w/a jitterbug. Lucked out & got a super good tech. The Jitterbug phone is proprietary to Great  Call - no other carrier can activate it/provide service. The reason the phone will show that it’s compatible w/another carrier (AT&T, Verizon, etc.) is because Great Call uses those carriers towers to bounce the signals off of, so phone needs to be able to use those signals.  In my area, the signal bounces off the Verizon network, in other areas it may be different, but my neighbor’s never had a problem getting a signal.  Hope this helps. 

[sbon74]

Thanks for your input. I wasn’t concerned with her being able to use the phone in our area. I was hoping there was a way to unlock the phone so it could be used with our current AT&T family plan. It will cost almost twice as much a month to have two separate individual accounts than to have one family plan.

[LagansLove]

I've been trying to find a phone that works on ATT for months. The ATT rep passed the buck completely and they don't sell anything that is easy to use.
Has anyone found a phone like the Jitterbug that is compatible with ATT.
The answer ATT gave here was very lacking.Check yourself??
We pay hundreds in wireless fees, they should be able to recommend a phone. I wasted $160 on their phone, too hard to use.

[sbon74]

As much as I prefer to keep my mom on my plan, I think I’m going to have to switch her to Great Call that sells the Jitterbug because the phones that AT&T suggested are still too complicated for my mom. I haven’t done it yet because paying for two separate plans is going to be pretty expensive, so I have been researching new plans for myself.

[lizdance40]

@sbon74 

@LagansLove 

with the impending 3G shutdown it’s time to look elsewhere for a low cost solution.  Great call or consumer cellular are excellent options. 

[Robtee]

I understand how you feel. I had a problem with my android phone that I bought from the AT&T store. The young lady who was the only rep there at the time told me "she don't fool with android phones. But of course she offered to sell me another phone. Seriously, they can do better. The representative should be trained on all types of equipment that they sell. Horrible service

[lizdance40]

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@Robtee wrote:

I understand how you feel. I had a problem with my android phone that I bought from the AT&T store. The young lady who was the only rep there at the time told me "she don't fool with android phones. But of course she offered to sell me another phone. Seriously, they can do better. The representative should be trained on all types of equipment that they sell. Horrible service

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1.  And this relates to phones for elderly how?

2.  Sales people do not fix phones, of any kind.  In fact they cannot touch an iPhone at all.  If you need tech-support you have to call 611 and ask for tech-support.

[bubJones]

At our local Verizon store (actually mybullfrog) they also are just salespeople, but they will still at least try to connect with tech support through their internal network to see what can be done.  I tried to get a Jitterbug phone to work there and had the same experience.