Consumer Cellular
Encyclopedia
Consumer Cellular is a Portland, Oregon based Mobile Virtual Network Operator
, founded by John Marick and Greg Pryor in October 1995. The company started out with an emphasis on the Pacific Northwest market, but when AT&T
and Cingular merged in 2005, Marick renegotiated Consumer Cellular's contract with AT&T to obtain a national footprint. They now use AT&T's network, and coverage includes all 50 US states.
Consumer Cellular specializes in cell phone plans for seniors. The company was most recently profiled in The Oregonian's Silicon Forest blog as #15 on a list of the largest 25 tech companies in northwest Oregon. They are also an Inc 5000 company.
In June, 2010, Consumer Cellular began offering a QWERTY
keyboard phone, which John Marick described as being simple and easy to use, and therefore appropriate for the "mature market" customers. Previously, Consumer Cellular also brought Doro
phones, a cellular phone designed for seniors, into its network. The New York Times Gadgetwise blog mentioned Consumer Cellular's Doro phone as a good option for seniors on November 3, 2009.
, making the company the first cell phone provider to market to retirees. The partnership became exclusive in 2008. As result of this partnership, more than 85% of Consumer Cellular's current customers are older than 50. The plans are relatively simplistic compared to other carriers, and have been advocated by such senior publications as the Senior Journal.
During the 2008 to 2009 recession period, Consumer Cellular has remained profitable, and has continued hiring.
In the Consumer Reports
no-contract cell phone service rating (Winter 2010), Consumer Cellular's overall score was 87 out of 100. This was the top spot in a summary of six competing companies surveyed, in the "no-contract cell service" category.
Mobile virtual network operator
A mobile virtual network operator is a company that provides mobile phone services but does not have its own licensed frequency allocation of radio spectrum, nor does it necessarily have all of the infrastructure required to provide mobile telephone service...
, founded by John Marick and Greg Pryor in October 1995. The company started out with an emphasis on the Pacific Northwest market, but when AT&T
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
and Cingular merged in 2005, Marick renegotiated Consumer Cellular's contract with AT&T to obtain a national footprint. They now use AT&T's network, and coverage includes all 50 US states.
Consumer Cellular specializes in cell phone plans for seniors. The company was most recently profiled in The Oregonian's Silicon Forest blog as #15 on a list of the largest 25 tech companies in northwest Oregon. They are also an Inc 5000 company.
In June, 2010, Consumer Cellular began offering a QWERTY
QWERTY
QWERTY is the most common modern-day keyboard layout. The name comes from the first six letters appearing in the topleft letter row of the keyboard, read left to right: Q-W-E-R-T-Y. The QWERTY design is based on a layout created for the Sholes and Glidden typewriter and sold to Remington in the...
keyboard phone, which John Marick described as being simple and easy to use, and therefore appropriate for the "mature market" customers. Previously, Consumer Cellular also brought Doro
Doro
Doro may refer to:* Doro , rock singer, former vocalist of the German heavy metal band Warlock** Doro , a 1990 album by Doro** Doro , a Swedish telecommunications company...
phones, a cellular phone designed for seniors, into its network. The New York Times Gadgetwise blog mentioned Consumer Cellular's Doro phone as a good option for seniors on November 3, 2009.
History
In 2005, Consumer Cellular began a relationship with the AARPAARP
AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons, is the United States-based non-governmental organization and interest group, founded in 1958 by Ethel Percy Andrus, PhD, a retired educator from California, and based in Washington, D.C. According to its mission statement, it is "a...
, making the company the first cell phone provider to market to retirees. The partnership became exclusive in 2008. As result of this partnership, more than 85% of Consumer Cellular's current customers are older than 50. The plans are relatively simplistic compared to other carriers, and have been advocated by such senior publications as the Senior Journal.
During the 2008 to 2009 recession period, Consumer Cellular has remained profitable, and has continued hiring.
In the Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports is an American magazine published monthly by Consumers Union since 1936. It publishes reviews and comparisons of consumer products and services based on reporting and results from its in-house testing laboratory. It also publishes cleaning and general buying guides...
no-contract cell phone service rating (Winter 2010), Consumer Cellular's overall score was 87 out of 100. This was the top spot in a summary of six competing companies surveyed, in the "no-contract cell service" category.