Retired people want smartphones too, and Doro’s new Android-based OS might just make things easier.
The Doro Liberto 825, Doro’s newest smartphone, has a brand new way of thinking. Revealed yesterday at its press launch, the overlay is more concerned with doing things than with thinking like a computer.
The idea is to follow the way a person thinks, using verbs (call, view, send) as a launch point. Want to look at your photos? Click on View. Send an audio recording? Send. Most smartphones rely on acting like computers, trusting you to know what the apps do and what various symbols mean before you launch them. The Liberto 825 is designed for those who are less tech-savvy, with their stated target demographic being people of retired age. The operating system is based on Android, with full access to Google Play and Android apps.
“We know from our ongoing research . . . that when people feel confident using a handset – their engagement rises and ultimately they do more,” said Chris Millington, Managing Director at Doro UK and Ireland.
The Liberto 825 has some useful, target-specific abilities that other phones don’t deliver. It’s hearing-aid compatible, the loudness can be adjusted and can be significantly louder than the average smartphone, and it has hearing-aid compatibility. The size of the on-screen text can also be expanded for those who have difficulty with their eyesight.
It isn’t a high-spec phone. With a modest 1.2GB processor chip, 8GB of storage (expandable to 32 with a MicroSD card) and only 1GB of memory, this device won’t be up to heavy-duty usage. However, given Doro’s intended market, it’s unlikely that users will need vast amounts of processing power.
The phone is charged in a cradle via contact points, in a system not unlike the Nintendo DS, and can operate as a miniature digital photo frame while charging, if you choose to activate it. Depending on where you charge it, it can either be a nice display in your living room or be guaranteed to keep you awake at night.
The Doro Liberto 825 will be released for sale later this month, priced at £250 and up sim-free.
For more on Doro, visit What Mobile’s dedicated Doro page.
