This three-button mobile phone from GreatCall Inc. is designed to help seniors take advantage of wireless communications.

San Diego-based GreatCall Inc. has unveiled a new phone for seniors, providing the security and convenience of a mobile phone without the complexity of current handsets. The new Jitterbug phone is available in select markets and will be distributed nationwide this fall. The company is still negotiating carrier service, but expects plans to start at about $9.95 per month.

The handsets were designed by Samsung and feature larger buttons, easy-to-read text, a comfortable ergonomic shape and an ear cushion for better sound quality. There are no icons or nested menus and the handsets are hearing aid compatible. GreatCall and Samsung are offering two handsets: one with a conventional 12-button dial and one with just three oversize buttons. Both offer live-operator assistance, easy message retrieval and toll-free access to a secure personal phone list. The three-buttons on the Jitterbug OneTouch phone connect to a live operator, 911, and a personally programmed number such as a relative or car towing service. The phone can be programmed to turn off certain features that the user doesn’t want such as voicemail.

The phones are not just for seniors, but for anyone who wants a simpler phone experience. “Generally, most consumer electronics leave many behind,” says Arlene Harris, chief executive and founder of GreatCall, in an e-mail while on business in Korea. “As features get packed in and more buttons added, we create a new ‘technology divide.’”

Harris says GreatCall will continue to focus on meeting the niche needs of customers who want simplicity and functionality in their electronics. Harris’ many ideas include what she believes will be a “killer” application for computing, but she declined to offer more detail.