02/12/2025
WHAT IS IT ?
SimpliFone is a locked down "telephone only" device that is perfect as a phone for senior citizens that get confused by the multitude of apps and features of smartphones, ideal as a second phone for the home or when you’re out on your bike and it’s brilliant for the children to use (safe from online influences and easy to use).
HOW DOES IT WORK ?
SimpiFone is a "single app" device that automatically and only runs the SimpliFone app, so no user selection is required and this means that when the phone is switched on, the SimpliFone telephone functionality is immediately visible and usable.
WHY DOES IT WORK ?
By implementing the appropriate controls offered by the options described below, the phone becomes perfectly tailored to the requirements and technical capabilities of the user – always maintaining the really easy to use and understand user interface.
The device is very easily configured (usually not by the person that will be using it) with the following options :
1 : Language – choose from 6 South African language options.
2 : Theme – choose from 3 themes (Modern, Bold or Classic)
3 : Owner Details – If you want to, store the name of the user and the phone number of the phone. This shows in the Info screen so is easily accessible.
4 : Dial Mode – Only allow 10 digit numbers to be dialled or allow any number of digits to be dialled. The 10 digit numbers option mimics the behaviour of the old landline telephones when dialling a number.
5 : Restricted Calls – Set the phone to only allow outgoing calls to the programmed contact numbers (see below) or restrict incoming calls to only be allowed from the programmed contact numbers (both options activated makes the phone into a one-press communication device and stops any spam callers or fraudsters getting through).
6 : Contacts – choose if you want to have access to the 10 contacts or not.
7 : Add Contact – Add up to 10 contact names and numbers and make Contact 1 the emergency contact (shown in red) if you want to.
8 : Block Incoming Calls – If you don’t want the phone to receive any calls at all – you can block these.
9 : Audio Settings : Fix the ringer volume at a specific setting that can’t be changed or set a minimum threshold that it can’t be set below (this stops the ringer being turned off and left off by mistake). Similar is available for the call volume (so the volume cannot be made too soft by mistake).
10 : Setup Access Code – Change the default access code (1234567890) to the settings if you want to protect the settings.
WHY SHOULD I HAVE ONE ?
SimpliFone is built on Samsung Galaxy smartphone hardware, it has a large, bright easy to read “smartphone” screen and it has multiple language options and a simple and highly intuitive user interface.
It is a phone that is just a phone and its setup can be tailored to meet the requirements of either the user of the phone or the requirements of the owner of the phone (when you want someone else to use the phone).
It is super reliable with a 7-day plus standby time and it is not prone to the challenges of having access to the internet and the app store and even callers or calls to numbers that are not in the contacts list if so required.
SimpliFone is sold as a ready to go product that can be used with any South African GSM SIM card.
