Mobility Compare paid a visit this week to the lair of Dragons’ Den’s Peter Jones. 

Nestled in the charming market town of Marlow, Buckinghamshire, PJ Media operates a diverse a number of companies – as you’d expect from a Dragon who spends much of his life investing in ground-level business opportunities.

We’d like to say we were investigating his new venture, Gondola Wine, but no such luck…..instead we were there to learn more about special phones for the senior market.  You know, the ones with the big knobs – we’re not being patronising either as these phones have seriously big buttons so that elderly and disabled people can use them easily.

big knobs and buttonsDoro_PhoneEasy_409_gsm_open_front-250x450 copy copy

Here’s the thing: even with millions of UK disabled, and even more elderly people, none of the large networks cater for this huge market.  It’s therefore been left to Peter Jones’ Matobmobile and companies like Emporia to fill the gap and help the elderly and disabled with phones designed specially for them.

Our favourite phone?  The Doro Phone Easy 409 – photo above.  Priced at £109, the phone is fitted with large buttons and a big display which in tandem with the huge characters makes text messages far easier to read.  The phone’s best feature, however, was the phone’s emergency SMS capabilities and emergency call dialling.  Just make sure you don’t send an emergency SMS by accident.  The last thing you need is an RAF helicopter winching down a rescue serviceman as you watch Masterchef.

Our favourite accessory?  The Amplicom Vibration Pillow which sits under your pillow and vibrates when there is an incoming call.  Even Ann Summers has thought about stocking this little gem but that’s for another blog post.  Price?  £19.99.

aplicom-ptv-100-pillow copy copy Good vibrations – the Amplicon Pillow

All in all the Mobility Compare crew had a splendid day out at the Dragons’ Den lair.  Did we meet Peter Jones?  No.  Did we see his office?  You couldn’t miss it – there was enough room for a five-a-side football pitch.  It really was that big.

We’re having a short holiday next week – see you end of April!