What’s the Story with Jitterbug?
Jitterbug is a cell phone company that markets its handsets and rate plans primarily to senior citizens, with ads typically appearing in AARP magazine. Jitterbug attempts to appeal to customers who want a simple, easy-to-use device. Jitterbug is similar to other offers that are a hybrid between traditional contract plans and prepaid offers. Like those other hybrid plans (which are not featured in the Ratewatcher), Jitterbug doesn’t hold you to a contract but you do have to pay a set rate every month or else your service will end, along with the unused minutes you’ve purchased. The problem with Jitterbug is that it’s simply more expensive than other available prepaid arrangements. For example, with Jitterbug’s “Simply 19” plan, you get 100 minutes per month for $20 per month — or 20 cents per minute. Not really a bad rate for prepaid wireless minutes but these minutes will expire unless you pay another $20 in each subsequent month. So over a year, you’ve spent $240 for 1200 minutes (whe
