Are seniors an "EasyTouch" for Telstra?

Stephen Withers
Friday, 28 November 2008 11:30

Your IT - Mobility

To make things even simpler and easier still, the phone comes with a DVD explaining its use, letting anyone follow a video on their TVs to learn all the features as quickly as possible.

And lest you think that all this talk of 'easy and simple' means feature-free, nothing could be further from the truth.

That's because the EasyTouch Discovery doesn't skimp on features at all, as it includes a three megapixel camera, integrated MP3 player, FM radio, AGPS, QR code reader, hands-free speaker phone, memory card slot, and video calling.

Better still, especially for seniors who might be preparing to take the great Australian adventure and travel across the country in their retirement, Telstra's executive director of product management, Ross Fielding explains that "Telstra's EasyTouch Discovery also comes with Telstra's Blue Tick rating, meaning it is recommended for handheld use in regional and rural areas."

"A compatible car kit with a directly coupled external antenna will further enhance coverage for customers living or travelling in these areas," Fielding added.

As I hinted, it sounds like the go for grey nomads, while having attractions for members of just about any age group in metro, rural and regional areas, who don't want to wrestle with a complex phone. But I can't see many teens queuing up for what they will probably see as a 'granny phone.'

Now, this isn't the first time a carrier has tried to cater for older customers. Vodafone tried it a while ago, with a handset that was effectively feature-free, beyond voice and SMS messages. It didn't seem to be too successful as it's not on sale down under anymore, despite still being available in the UK, according to reports.

Pay more, get less - now that was a good selling point!

So how much does the EasyTouch Discovery cost? Find out on page 3.