Just5 Cell Phone Review

Using the Just5

The Just5 is an unlocked GSM 850/1900 band phone so it can be used with GSM carriers worldwide. You simply purchase the Just5 hardware from Just5 or another retailer and then set up service with a mobile carrier. Th
e carrier will give you a SIM card to be used in the Just5. In the U.S., both AT&T and T-Mobile provide SIM cards that can be used with Just5. There are also many smaller local carriers whose unlocked SIM cards that can be used with the Just5. It will also work with pre-paid SIM card providers, as long as their SIM cards are not locked.

Setting up the Just5 hardware is easy. You simply slide off the back of the phone, remove the battery, insert the SIM card, and replace the battery and cover. Figure 9 shows the Just 5 with the back and battery removed. The SIM card is the blue and white card in the phone.

Figure 9: The Just5 with SIM card showing

Setting up the software is also easy. It’s pretty intuitive, but if you need help there is a very useful video called “How it Works” on the Just5 website. This video takes you through the initial setup of the phone including how to place and receive calls, send texts, and add contacts to the address book. It also shows you how to use some of the phones other functions and how to set up the SOS button (which is shown in Figure 10).

Figure 10: The SOS button

As seen in Figure 10, the Just5 has an orange SOS button on the back. It is depressed, so it won’t be pressed inadvertently during normal handling of the phone. You can program five numbers to be used with the SOS functionality. Once that is done, you can use it in any emergency. You simply press the SOS button and hold it down briefly. That initiates a loud siren and activates the SOS programming. The phone then sends five text messages announcing that the phone owner is having an emergency. The Just5 then dials each phone number in succession until it finds one that answers. Then the Just5 goes into speakerphone mode so the person can talk handsfree. It’s a well thought-out implementation that can bring help quickly in an emergency.

In everyday use, the Just5 performs admirably. The lighted keypad has large, clear, easy-to-see numbers. The phone will verbally announce each number as you dial, a feature that is great for the sight-impaired and can be turned off if you don’t need it. The volume is loud, up to 100 dB and the sound is quite clear. The phone is also hearing aid compatible.

The Just5 also has Bluetooth, which worked quite well in our testing. It also has a built-in FM radio. Depending on the station’s reception, the FM radio can be a little staticy through the speakers, but quite clear with the headphones. Unlike the Snapfon, the Just5 worked with own headsets. The phone must be in the unlocked position to play the radio. The FM radio will start at the last station that you listened to. Unfortunately, there are no presets, so if you want to change the station, you use the up and down navigation arrow keys.

The phone book can hold up to 100 phone numbers and may be able to hold more depending on the capacity of the SIM card, which you provide from a cellular provider.

With the Just5, you have your choice of two languages, English and Spanish. It also has a calculator and an alarm.

There is one minor inconvenience with the Just5. It does not pick up the date and time from the cellular network as many other cell phones do. Instead, when you get the phone or when daylight savings time begins or ends, you must reset the time manually in the phones settings.