GreatCall

GreatCall is a connected health technology company based in San Diego, California. GreatCall offers health and safety products and services for older adults,[1] including mobile devices, cellular service, mobile apps and a wearable device. The company provides US-wide cellular service as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) through the Verizon Wireless network.

Great Call
Company TypeConnected Health
Founded2005
FounderArlene Harris
HeadquartersSan Diego, California, United States
Key PeopleDavid Inns, CEO
Websitegreatcall.com

History

GreatCall was founded in 2005 by Arlene Harris to provide aging adults with accessible technology and services.[2] In the same year, the company launched the original Jitterbug phone.[3] In 2009 the company launched Live Nurse (now Urgent Care). In partnership with FONEMED, it provides customers with access to registered nurses 24 hours a day.[4]

In 2011, GreatCall added the app MedCoach, which provides daily medication management.[5] That same year, it introduced the 5Star Urgent Response (now known as GreatCall Splash), a mobile Personal Emergency Response System device, along with 5Star Medical Alert System, which uses GPS technology and advanced location analysis to connect users with emergency certified 5Star Agents.[6]

In 2012, the company released the Jitterbug Touch, a keyboarded Android phone with a simplified user interface.[7]

In 2014, the company added an alerting app, Link.[8] In November 2015, the firm acquired Lively Inc.

On June 7, 2017, GreatCall announced that it was being acquired by the private equity firm GTCR.[9] In turn, GreatCall was acquired by electronics retailer Best Buy on August 15, 2018 for $800 million. The purchase is part of a corporate initiative "to enrich lives through technology by addressing key human needs".[10]

Awards and Recognitions
  • In 2006, the Jitterbug cell phone was recognized in New York Times tech journalist David Pogue's Top 10 Brilliant Ideas [11] and Reader's Digest 100 Best Products.[12]
  • In 2007, the company won the wireless industry's Andrew Seybold Choice Award for "Best New Wireless Company"[13] at CTIA, the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Associations design award, and was recognized as a finalist for CES's Last Gadget Standing Competition.[14]
  • In 2008, it received the Stevie Award for "Best Overall Company" ,[15] the American Society on Aging's Award for "Best Small Business" .[16]
  • In 2009, TripleTree selected GreatCall as the winner for "Best Consumer Experience" and GreatCall's LiveNurse application (now Urgent Care) received the CTIA Hot for the Holiday's "Hottest Mobile Consumer Application" award.[17] In 2010, LiveNurse also received the CTIA Hot for the Holiday's "Hottest Mobile Consumer Application" award.[18]
  • In 2014, The company Link app won the Today's Caregiver's "Caregiver Friendly Award" .[19]
  • In 2016, the Lively Wearable was recognized in The Wall Street Journal's "Best Of CES 2016: The Wondrous and Wacky Year Ahead in Gadgets" [20]
  • In 2016, the Jitterbug Flip was featured in the Wall Street Journal article on simple phones and was the editor's phone of the lot[21]. The same year, it was also recognized in PCMag as Editor's Choice for simple cell phones[22]
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See also

References
  1. Miller, Jim (November 26, 2014). "Personal Tech Products Designed Specifically for Seniors". Huffington Post.
  2. Mitroff, Sarah (May 28, 2014). "GreatCall's Splash and Jitterbug5 help seniors stay safe and connected". CNET.
  3. Lewis, Peter (April 6, 2006). "Cellphones for kids – and seniors". Fortune.
  4. Lee, Jacqueline (May 24, 2013). "No Copay Required: Patients Get Urgent Care Assistance From GreatCall App". Health TechZone.
  5. Wong, George (June 28, 2011). "GreatCall MedCoach lets you manage your medication with your iPhone". Ubergizmo.
  6. "Product Review: The 5Star Urgent Response from GreatCall". The Senior List. February 1, 2013.
  7. Colon, Alex (November 29, 2013). "Jitterbug Touch (GreatCal)". PC Mag.
  8. "GreatCall Link Supports Family Caregivers in Enabling Independence". BusinessWire. January 7, 2014.
  9. "GTCR Announces Acquisition of GreatCall". PR Newswire. PR Newswire. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  10. "Best Buy just spent $800 million on GreatCall, the company that made the JitterBug phone". The Verge. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  11. Pogue, David (December 28, 2006). "Brilliant Ideas That Found a Welcome". The New York Times.
  12. "Jitterbug Listed in Readers' Digest 100 Best Products – 2007". DYNA. January 1, 2007. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  13. Seybold, Andrew (April 12, 2007). "Things are Getting Better for Customers". AndrewSeybold.com.
  14. "Yahoo! Tech Announces Winners of "Last Gadget Standing" Event at CES 2007". BusinessWire. January 10, 2007.
  15. "Best Overall Company". Stevie Awards. 2008.
  16. "Best Small Business". American Society on Aging. 2008. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  17. "Jitterbug LiveNurse Wins Best Mobile Consumer Application Award". BusinessWire. October 13, 2009.
  18. "CTIA Announces Hot for the Holidays Awards Finalists". Bloomberg. September 20, 2010.
  19. "Winner's Gallery". Caregiver.com. 2014.
  20. Fowler, Geoffrey (January 6, 2016). "BEST OF CES 2016: The Wondrous and Wacky Year Ahead in Gadgets". The Wall Street Journal.
  21. Fowler, Geoffrey (April 27, 2016). "Jitterbug Flip (GreatCall)".
  22. Kumar, Ajay (May 31, 2016). "Jitterbug Flip (GreatCall)".
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