How about a phone so simple the button controls are printed on a sticker that is applied to its face? Or a cellphone made just for you with photos of your family as speed dial buttons? Or an anti-smartphone with lanyards that only makes and receives calls? A phone with all these innovations is issued now. .

The phone is really a generic plastic pod of electronics that calls the seed. The front of the pod has an array of buttons that are pre-programmed to only dial 2, 4, 8, 10 or 12 numbers. One of the buttons can be set to dial 999, the UK equivalent of 911 for emergencies. Other buttons on the front adjust the volume up or down, answer or end a call. The custom printed front sticker aligns with the button programming, and can incorporate family portraits and even tactile braille dots. The flat plastic housing offers a speaker, microphone, USB charging port and lanyards holes. There is a master on/off slider switch for power on the back to allow the battery to retain its charge for up to a year. There is no speakerphone, voicemail, SMS text or GPS capability. Simplicity rules this product.

Some seniors commented that they would have a hard time pressing the printed buttons and suggested that a single braille dot be placed over all the printed buttons as a standard feature. They would also be concerned about call clarity and volume, neither of which we could test. The lanyards were the good physical security feature because they felt the small phone could be easily misplaced. The pricing plan was a non-starter as prepaid minutes would be their requirement.

Despite the astounding number of mobile phone products in the market from simple to complex, we think this phone will successfully appeal to a certain segment of caregivers and consumers who have very basic needs for a mobile phone.