1, 2008. The Emporia Life, an extraordinarily simple and easy-to-use device, is especially intended for the elderly and the handicapped, who have difficulties using normal mobile phones. Customers now have a unique opportunity to get a favorably-priced bundle consisting of this phone together with the O2 NEON S service, which offers unlimited on-net calling every weekend, for a monthly fee of CZK 190 with VAT, or with the prepaid O2 Fajn service with CZK 1,000 of credit for half price. For each phone purchased, the company will donate CZK 100 to the Seniors' Line.

Telefónica O2 has made a long-term effort to offer all customers the best products and services that are tailored to satisfy their wishes and needs. Until now, operators have been neglecting the segment of elderly customers. At present there are nearly two million pensioners in the Czech Republic and the trend of an older population continues to grow. The older generation often feels lost in the world of modern technology and needs greater support, devices that are easier to use, and comprehensible services.

That is why O2 is adding the Emporia Life mobile phone to its offer. This handset has been developed especially for the generation of people aged 60+. Seniors have the Seniors’ Line phone number 800 200 007 preset in the Emporia mobile phone. The O2 Foundation has been supporting the Seniors' Line financially since 2008, and thanks to this support, calls to it are free of charge. Seniors can call the Seniors' Line whenever they need advice or assistance, or want to share their joys and problems with somebody. They can also get information regarding medicine, law, psychology, and the social support system. In addition, for every Emporia phone purchased by the end of the year, Telefónica O2 will devote CZK 100 to support the operation of the Seniors' Line.

Emporia Life is a very simple phone with basic functions for calling and sending SMS messages. Its menu is in Czech, easy to understand, and contains a minimum amount of additional settings. The massive keys on the keypad enable very simple use. The phone has a large orange display that allow for characters that are more distinguishable than displays of any other color. On the back of the phone, there is a special red button for quick-dialing in case of emergencies. One push of this button connects the caller to up to five different user-defined contacts. The phone also features a special button for an alarm clock, lamp, and diodes that signal incoming calls.

"The complicated functions and large number of small buttons on today's mobile phones are frequent reasons why elderly citizens are reluctant to use them. The Emporia Life phone is, contrarily, constructed in such a way that it accommodates the needs of the elderly, as well as the handicapped, in all ways," says Jan Karas, Marketing Director for the Residential Segment, Telefónica O2 adding, "Parents who are pensioners regularly inherit simpler, older generation phones from their children. With Emporia Life, however, they can now get a brand new phone – a phone that is very user-friendly. This could be an excellent gift to put under the Christmas tree this year."

Telefónica O2 is the first operator to offer the Emporia Life telephone exclusively on the Czech market. In addition to launching this phone on the market, the operator has also prepared an attractive calling offer for seniors that will be available by the end of the year. Users of prepaid services have the opportunity to get a special bundle with the O2 Fajn tariff and CZK 1,000 of credit for half price. Postpaid customers over 60 years of age can take advantage of a very advantageous offer of O2 NEON S for only CZK 190 with VAT per month. With this they get free weekend calling to O2 mobile numbers and fixed lines, as well as 40 free minutes for calls to all networks every month. The per-minute calling rate on business days and to other networks is CZK 5.50 (with VAT) and each SMS is CZK 1.50 (with VAT).

The phone is available in an unsubsidized version for CZK 3,495 with VAT. In combination with any postpaid tariff, it can be acquired for as little as CZK 1 with VAT.


Information Source:    Telefónica O2 Czech
Image courtesy of www.emporialifeplus.com