I will be the first to admit that I don’t know much about U.S. Cellular. My store doesn’t offer their services and I’ve never been a paying customer (though I’m getting to know the local employees since writing this review.) All in all, I’m not the most qualified person for the job. Luckily, I have two things working to my advantage: 1. The local U.S. Cellular employees seem friendly and willing to answer questions and 2. My roommate’s grandma has a Wine.
The Wine is also a simple phone to navigate, though it doesn’t eliminate luxury features like the camera or text messaging the way the Samsung Knack did. So there’s a bit more to learn with this phone, though that can be avoided if one wishes.
One of the Wine’s major selling points is its four simple navigation buttons. They are pictorally represented: The envelope brings you to messaging, the clock to the alarm settings, the photographs to your pictures, and the trademarked star brings you to U.S. Cellular’s online store. So if you’re thrifty, you won’t be pressing that button.
The buttons are large on the phone, the screen is large, and it is hearing aid compatible, so it meets my basic requirements for a simple phone. However, this phone really isn’t all that simple. It has quite a few functions including an internet browser, tip calculator, and the ability to record unique ringtones from its microphone. This phone does not sacrifice functionality to simplicity–and it is because of that that some people might not like it.
After all, there are those out there who DON’T want a 1.3 megapixel camera, who will NEVER surf the internet, and who just want a BASIC phone. (I hear this a lot in my job.) This phone is not for them. I’d say this phone is more for people who are already used to using cell phones, but are beginning to develop hearing or vision problems and would like to ease their troubled senses.
All in all, a little more complicated than I think is necessary, but still a good choice.
