I have the same problem. I also live rural, so I need a WiFi/3G plus Bluetooth capable cell phone that is a minimum 3M/3T hearing aid capable phone. I also need a large keyboard. The virtual keyboard is the only type that fits my needs as I am also low vision. .
I buy at TracFone to avoid monthly contracts. My first phone was a LG 830 / triple minutes. It has everything I needed. I paid $40. The triple minutes gives me 3 for ever 1 minute I buy. I do not live on a cell phone. This does NOT have a bad speaker phone. It is very good for what it is. But also, I cannot hear any voice not on speaker phone.
I hated the fact I had to make my phone calls public to anyone within ear shot. I found a solution that is two part. First is a land line and portable phones. I tried Clarity, AT&T and Panasonic. Clarity was a waste of money. I liked the AT&T phone except the screen in so funky and dark, that I can't see good enough to read names or incoming phone numbers at night- even with the backlight .
The Panasonic uses Dec 6.0 technology. It has a white screen, large black text I can see, and an excellent backlight at night. The speaker phone on the base, and also on the handset, sounds clear, is loud, and it is adjustable. The KX-T phones are all Bluetooth capable. These are very well built phones that take punishment and don't break. One of my sets is five years old.
As I have a fairly large house, I have two Panasonic bases and five handsets. The phone bases work together. I do not have to worry if I put the correct handset in the correct base. This is not a cheap phone. You can go to the Panasonic website and also find reconditioned phones that are discounted. I have a new set and a reconditioned set. Both are Bluetooth. I cannot tell the difference when using this phone. One of the things I learned is that most of the low cost portable phones do not work for me, and my telephone company is awful. .
Thus the first step was to find the correct portable phone for me that has a clear sound, a loud speaker, and is Bluetooth capable that makes nice with my telephone company. The next step was to find a headset that would pair with the Bluetooth phones.
My brother is profoundly deaf. We both use this headset with our portable phones and cell phones. The headset will pair with two Bluetooth devices such as two cell phones, or a combination like mine. BlueParrott® B250-XT from the Vxi Corporation.
http://www.vxicorp.com/solutions/mobile/b250-xt/
I have two of the KX -T phones. One has a base with three handsets. The second set only has two handsets.
http://shop.panasonic.com/home-and-...telephones/KX-TGH263B.html#start=1&cgid=deals
I wear aids. I can use the Blue Parrott with or without aids. I have a nearly 90% loss in one ear and almost 50% loss in the other with tinnitis and recruitment in both. Sometimes trying to hear on a bad phone, or over a bad connection is a real challenge. It is also a continuing battle with my telephone provider. None seem to want to serve deaf customers in rural America.
I forgot to add my LG phones from Tracfone averaged $50 each, with no set up fee, no contract, no smartphone tax, plus both have camera, video recorder, accessible with hearing aids, and Internet access. One uses AT&T whilst the other uses Verizon. I prefer the former where I live.
for your response
