AT&T is adding a new phone to its GoPhone prepaid lineup, but this one is a bit different than most other handsets.
The SpareOne Emergency Phone will be sold in AT&T stores and online starting November 6. Pricing will be set at $59.99, with an annual service plan of $25 that includes 120 minutes and Locate and Alert services.
What makes the SpareOne different is that it’s powered by a AA battery. As its name implies, the SpareOne is meant to be an emergency phone that you use only to contact loved ones when you’re in trouble. The SpareOne has a flashlight, panic siren, and an SOS signal.
The Locate and Alert services let you set up to 9 “guardians” that you want to be notified in the event of an emergency. When you press the SpareOne’s Alert button, those 9 people will receive a call, text message, or email with your location. The SpareOne can also be set to speed dial up to 9 contacts.
While it doesn’t have any of the features that you’d expect from a modern phone, like a camera or the ability to receive text messages, the SpareOne does work in extreme temperatures ranging from -22 degrees Fahrenheit up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Clearly this is a phone meant to take with you on adventures, keep in your car, or to be given to elderly users for emergencies.
