Lively (company)

Lively (stylized as Live!y, and known before 2021 as GreatCall) is a connected health technology company based in the United States of America.

Lively
Company TypeConnected Health
Founded2005
FounderArlene Harris
HeadquartersUnited States
ParentBest Buy
Websitelively.com

Since 2018, the company has been a subsidiary of electronics retailer Best Buy.[1] Lively offers health and safety products and services for older adults,[2] including mobile devices, cellular service, mobile apps and a wearable device. The company provides US-wide cellular service as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) through the Verizon Wireless network. The Lively Smart phone requires a data plan at an additional fee and those data services begin with a nominal fee and increases with options.

History
GreatCall, Inc. Logo

GreatCall was founded in 2005 by Arlene Harris to provide aging adults with accessible technology and services.[3] In the same year, the company launched the original Jitterbug phone.[4]

In 2009, the company launched Live Nurse (now Urgent Care). In partnership with FONEMED, it provides customers with access to registered nurses 24 hours a day.[5]

In 2011, GreatCall added the app MedCoach, which provides daily medication management.[6] That same year, it introduced the 5Star Urgent Response (now known as GreatCall Splash), a mobile Personal Emergency Response System device, along with 5Star Medical Alert System, which uses GPS technology and advanced location analysis to connect users with emergency certified 5Star Agents.

In 2012, the company released the Jitterbug Touch, a keyboarded Android phone with a simplified user interface.[7]

In 2014, the company added an alerting app, Link.[8]

In November 2015, the firm acquired Lively Inc.

Lively, prior to being acquired, had developed an online software platform for caregivers to get alerts about pill dispensers and other items through a sensor system, allowing for the tracking of activity, diet, sleep, and movement.[9]

In 2017, Great Call had around 800,000 subscribers in the United States for its mobile services. It generated roughly $250 in annual revenue, and employed around 1,000 workers, with around 700 of those worker in call centers in Nevada.[9] On June 7, 2017, GreatCall announced that it was being acquired by the private equity firm GTCR.[10] The price was undisclosed.[9] CEO David Inns remained with the company, as did other Great Call executives.[9]

In turn, GreatCall was acquired by electronics retailer Best Buy on August 15, 2018, for $800 million.[1] GreatCall's CEO became Best Buy Health's president of active aging.[11]

In May 2021, the company renamed itself Lively, taking the name of the company it had acquired in 2015.[12] Lively became available on Apple Watch in 2021.[13]

Its Jitterbug Flip network experienced a network disruption at the start of 2023, with Best Buy stating that Jitterbug Flip2 phones, Jitterbug smartphones, and Lively-branded phones weren't impacted.[14][15] Verizon is the 3G provider for Lively,[16] and the network issues followed Verizon's retirement of its 3G mobile network.[17]

Products and services

The company operates the Lively phone service, an MVNO, or mobile virtual network operator, where it rents cellular service from other operators, and primarily caters to seniors with old-fashioned phones and medical alert devices.[16]

Lively manufactures the Jitterbug Flip phones, an easy-to-use cell phone marketed for American elderly.[16]

The brand's Urgent Response Center offers medical advice, as well as prescriptions and refills.[18]

Awards and recognitions
  • In 2006, the Jitterbug cell phone was recognized in New York Times tech journalist David Pogue's Top 10 Brilliant Ideas [19] and Reader's Digest 100 Best Products.[20]
  • In 2007, the company won the wireless industry's Andrew Seybold Choice Award for "Best New Wireless Company"[21] at CTIA, the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Associations design award, and was recognized as a finalist for CES's Last Gadget Standing Competition.[22]
  • In 2008, it received the Stevie Award for "Best Overall Company" ,[23] the American Society on Aging's Award for "Best Small Business" .[24]
  • In 2009, TripleTree selected GreatCall as the winner for "Best Consumer Experience" and GreatCall's LiveNurse application (now Urgent Care) received the CTIA Hot for the Holiday's "Hottest Mobile Consumer Application" award.[25] In 2010, LiveNurse also received the CTIA Hot for the Holiday's "Hottest Mobile Consumer Application" award.[26]
  • In 2014, The company Link app won the Today's Caregiver's "Caregiver Friendly Award" .[27]
  • In 2016, the Lively Wearable was recognized in The Wall Street Journal's "Best Of CES 2016: The Wondrous and Wacky Year Ahead in Gadgets" [28]
  • In 2016, the Jitterbug Flip was featured in the Wall Street Journal article on simple phones and was the editor's phone of the lot.[29] The same year, it was also recognized in PCMag as Editor's Choice for simple cell phones[30]

See also

References
  1. "Best Buy just spent $800 million on GreatCall, the company that made the JitterBug phone". The Verge. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  2. Miller, Jim (November 26, 2014). "Personal Tech Products Designed Specifically for Seniors". Huffington Post.
  3. Mitroff, Sarah (May 28, 2014). "GreatCall's Splash and Jitterbug5 help seniors stay safe and connected". CNET.
  4. Lewis, Peter (April 6, 2006). "Cellphones for kids – and seniors". Fortune.
  5. Lee, Jacqueline (May 24, 2013). "No Copay Required: Patients Get Urgent Care Assistance From GreatCall App". Health TechZone.
  6. Wong, George (June 28, 2011). "GreatCall MedCoach lets you manage your medication with your iPhone". Ubergizmo.
  7. Colon, Alex (November 29, 2013). "Jitterbug Touch (GreatCal)". PC Mag.
  8. "GreatCall Link Supports Family Caregivers in Enabling Independence". BusinessWire. January 7, 2014.
  9. "Jitterbug phone outfit Great Call sold to Chicago private equity firm" (); The San Diego Union-Tribune (sandiegouniontribune.com); 07-06-2017; retrieved on 19 January 2023
  10. "GTCR Announces Acquisition of GreatCall". PR Newswire (Press release). Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  11. "GreatCall switches to Lively" (); Fierce Wireless (fiercewireless.com); 04-06-2021; retrieved on 19 January 2023
  12. "GreatCall is now Lively". Wirefly. June 3, 2021.
  13. "Best Buy's Lively app now available on Apple Watch as retailer pushes further into healthcare" (); FierceHealthcare (fiercehealthcare.com); 04-03-2021; retrieved on 19 January 2023
  14. "Best Buy-owned phone service faces angry customers after 3G network shutdown" (); Fox6 Milwaukee (fox6now.com); 16-01-2023; retrieved on 19 January 2023
  15. "3G network shutdown cuts off some Best Buy phone customers" (); Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal (bizjournals.com); 10-01-2023; retrieved on 19 January 2023
  16. "Select Jitterbug Phones Sold by Best Buy Can’t Make Calls" (); ReviewGeek (reviewgeek.com); 11-01-2023; retrieved on 19 January 2023
  17. "Network updates leave some Best Buy Jitterbug customers with no cell service" (); Star Tribune (startribune.com); 11-01-2023; retrieved on 19 January 2023
  18. "Lively" (); TechRadar (techradar.com); 07-09-2022; retrieved on 19 January 2023
  19. Pogue, David (December 28, 2006). "Brilliant Ideas That Found a Welcome". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 21, 2018.
  20. "Jitterbug Listed in Reader's Digest 100 Best Products – 2007". DYNA. January 1, 2007. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  21. Seybold, Andrew (April 12, 2007). "Things are Getting Better for Customers". AndrewSeybold.com.
  22. "Yahoo! Tech Announces Winners of "Last Gadget Standing" Event at CES 2007". BusinessWire. January 10, 2007.
  23. "Best Overall Company". Stevie Awards. 2008.
  24. "Best Small Business". American Society on Aging. 2008. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  25. "Jitterbug LiveNurse Wins Best Mobile Consumer Application Award". BusinessWire. October 13, 2009.
  26. "CTIA Announces Hot for the Holidays Awards Finalists". Bloomberg. September 20, 2010.
  27. "Winner's Gallery". Caregiver.com. 2014.
  28. Fowler, Geoffrey (January 6, 2016). "BEST OF CES 2016: The Wondrous and Wacky Year Ahead in Gadgets". The Wall Street Journal.
  29. Fowler, Geoffrey (April 27, 2016). "Jitterbug Flip (GreatCall)".
  30. Kumar, Ajay (May 31, 2016). "Jitterbug Flip (GreatCall)".
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