Extra-large cell phone aimed at elderly

updated 10:09 p.m. ET Feb. 7, 2005

PRAGUE, Czech Republic - Targeting elderly customers, a Czech company has started manufacturing extra large cellular phones, an official said Monday.

The company, Jablotron, said it had noticed older people sometimes have difficulties when using cell phones, which tend to be smaller and smaller.

It said it had received more than 100,000 orders for the new device, which will be the size of a traditional desk phone used for fixed lines. About 7,000 phones have already been delivered to an unspecified international mobile phone operator, said Viktor Slanar of Jablotron, based in Jablonec nad Nisou, 50 miles northeast of Prague.

In the Czech Republic, the company plans to begin selling the phones next week for $216.

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