Hi. Partial Quad, C5-T1 here.

It has become too difficult for me to hold my cell phone up to my ear. What do you use? Could anyone recommend a cell phone (in the U.S.A) that is reasonably priced and has some hand-free feature that has a quality sound? Does anyone use BLUETHOOTH? I feel exhausted looking on the web at all the different phones available. I find it all very confusing and would really appreciate some good advice.

I love this forum...C ya around

-SnoFl

i use to use the motorola slvr, it was nice kind of tough to navigate around. now i have the iphone, i find the phone easy to use, even without finger movement, works good w/ a bluetooth headset & the speaker phone is pretty good but it isn't exactly cost friendly though.

I have a Verizon ENVY (the 1st generation) & although I don't often need to use it there are voice activated prompts. If you've got a contract with a specific provider; my suggestion would be to go into one of their larger stores (more selection that way) during more "off hours" while most people are at work it would be easier to get an associate to spend some time helping you look for the right model.

I've got lousy vision & so when my contract comes up for renewal I go in & have them show me ALL the phones & play with them a bit to see which are both easy for me to see & not too confusing........I get mixed up learning new things.......so the less the learning curve is the better.

Bluetooth technology is wonderful.......but it doesn't always have the longest of talk times as the earpiece itself has its own battery vs. the wire kind, but there is no wire to get caught up in your wheels. If you'll need to wear the earpiece for hrs at a time because you're not able to get it on/off your ear easily you may want to see if the one you pick has different size ear molds.......that way it's more comfortable to wear.

I have a Blackberry (albeit an older 8703 model), and I love it because it has voice recognition technology software that I downloaded from the internet. That way, I can press one button and it'll type in stuff for me, i.e. addresses on Mapquest so I can find my way around. iPhone is great too, but if you can hold off (or have to save up the cash like me), I'd say wait until early next year when the new model is out. I am very much wanting an iPhone simply for the apps, and because it seems more intuitive.

As for Bluetooth, I suggest getting two headsets, so that you'll have a spare if one dies. I've found dirt cheap ones on the internet (i.e. eBay or newegg.com, etc), and I found they were a lifesaver, especially while in the hospital/rehab. Also, when I'm up on crutches, I hate hate HATE not having my Bluetooth adapter - I'm trapped in one spot without it on!

When I turn my Blackberry on for speakerphone, it has very clear sound, and people can hear me very well. HOWEVER - if I happen to pick up the phone, and the mic is next to my face, the person on the other end can't hear a word I'm saying. When you do shop around, check and see where the mic node is, and how large the mic area is (mine is the size of a eraser shaving!).

Also, check on eBay etc. for secondhand/last year's model phones - that are UNLOCKED, preferably. Of course... if you say that you're bringing the phone you purchased abroad and you want to use a SIM (the little card inside the phone) from the country you're going to, you generally won't get any flack. Anyway, I use Sprint, so that point is moot. I like the plan I'm on.

If you work for a company (usually larger ones), or your significant other/kids do, check and see if they have a deal with a large carrier. I know that my old company worked with Verizon who gave a 15% discount on monthly plans, plus a 25% discount on phones. If your company uses a BES (Blackberry Enterprise Server) or equivalent, you might be able to hook yourself up with their network and get your email on their phone, plus some support (sometimes!) from whoever administers Blackberries.

Decide what you're going to use on your phone. I use my phone as just about everything, so I have a plan that scales for that. If you're price conscious, make sure to shop around with the major brands. For example, a iPhone through AT&T will REQUIRE you to add on the data plan, regardless if you'll use it or not. The plan usually costs around $80/month, I believe. If that functionality is important for you, go for it. I've seen dirt cheap plans as well for other phones, for when you just 'occasionally' chat on the phone.

Finally, always make sure that when you sign the contract, you have a 'trial period', and you make sure that your phone works in most important places, like the bathroom in your house! If you have the time, check and see if 'you're good' everywhere you typically hang out. So so so many people I know have cell phones that are dead in their house, or at their company, or whatever. No good.

I used to do specialty cell phone stuff for a company I used to work with, so sorry if this is overboard! It's always hard to guess what sort of cell plan/phone/devices will work best for a person without personally knowing them. Good luck!

eta: also, make sure you 'test' phones, to get the feel in your hand. I prefer a thicker phone, which is one of the turn-offs from the iPhone for me personally. And why I love my old phone.

Just commenting about the title of your post . . . .

Soooo, you need SOUND advice on a cell phone, do you??--haha
Funny funny girl.

I use a Bluetooth Headset that does not require any buttons to be pushed to either receive a call or make a call.

This is the website: www.nobuttonsheadset.com

I have been having the same question regarding cell phones for months now. My boyfriend currently has the iPhone 3G, but not the newest model. We cannot figure out how to use any voice control features, or if this model even has them! Basically, he needs a phone for voice dialing accurately as his finger movement is really limited at this point. I have a Blackberry Pearl and I find it to be more user friendly from the voice dialing standpoint, just one small button on the side and you're able to activate the feature. But, I will admit that I'm not sure if it's voice control goes beyond that, I've never tried it.

I've been using mobile phones, and cordless phones, for over 10 years now. I've tried headsets, corded earpieces, Bluetooth, handsfree, voice dialling, etc. They all have their pros and cons, depending on one's physical abilities. I can no longer lift a phone unit up to my ear, and I struggle to quickly retrieve and operate a phone with my limited hand/finger movement.

Bluetooth is fine for in-coming calls because it can be setup to kick through to the earpiece automatically (no button pressing required at all). Making a call is a different matter, although most phones allow for one-touch dialling (i.e. pre-programming each key to dial a specific number). Battery life isn't really an issue, and I've found I could wear a Bluetooth earpiece for 12+ hours without it dying (depending on how many calls are made). Voice dialling is pretty much like Bluetooth, no hassle for in-coming, but does require key presses for out-going calls.

Currently I'm trying a slightly different "system", namely a touch screen mobile phone, the Nokia 5800. It has two features which are working well for me . . a large touch screen with large keys to press, and a very loud and clear speakerphone. The touch screen "keys" are 3-4x larger than normal phone keys and are light to touch. I can operate the phone with one finger, albeit quite a disabled one! The touch sensitivity can be adjusted as well. The built in speakerphone allows me to leave the mobile lying on my lap, or on a table, and speak/listen normally . . no need to hold the phone in my hand.

So far I am enjoying the touch screen experience. The battery life on the 5800 is excellent, often providing 4+ days of usage before needing a charge.

With the NoButtonsHeadset you do not have to push any buttons. It works with a magnet mounted to the wheelchair. The good thing is it tells me the caller ID for an incoming call and I can say "answer" to answer it or ""Ignore" to send it to my voicemail. It is better than setting the phone to Auto Answer because then I have to answer every incoming call no matter what I am doing. With the NoButtondHeadset I have a choice.

I use a Verizon Trance which has Voice Dialing (by saying the number) and other good voice commands. To make a call I just have to move the ear piece a few inches (close to the magnet) and it will ask me to "Say a Command". I can then make calls (by saying "Home" for example) that I programmed in the headset or access the phones voice Commands by saying "Phone Commands".

Thanks for the info! I just ordered one for Sean. The same business is nearly ready to promote a new device to assist with pc use.